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Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021

Written Answers Nos. 573-595

Disability Services

Questions (573)

Richard Bruton

Question:

573. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if supports are available without household income means tests for a severely disabled person to install equipment such as a full lift in cases in which the only way in which they can live independently is by being with a member of their wider family and in which a means test on other household income would be unfairly restricting their options. [34068/21]

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Written answers

The only funding avenue for an adaptation of the kind mentioned in the question is the Housing Adaptation Grant, which is under the remit of the Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Neither the Department of Health nor the HSE offer funding of this nature.

Disability Services

Questions (574)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

574. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken to introduce personalised budgets for persons with a disability; when he will be in a position to introduce same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34084/21]

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Written answers

The report of the Task Force on Personalised Budgets was launched by Minister McGrath in July 2018. The report set out how personalised budgets could work as a funding mechanism for people with a disability.

Personalised budgets can help to provide people with disabilities with greater choice and control over the services and supports they receive.

The Task Force reviewed national and international research and consulted with service users and their families. They recommended that the Department of Health, with the HSE, should establish a pilot project to test the delivery of personalised budgets - the aim being to identify the best approach to roll-out personalised budgets following this pilot phase.

Funding can be spent on specific personal supports funded by the HSE such as employing your own support worker or having support staff at a time you choose. These supports will be agreed and identified in a personal support plan for each participant. The funding is allocated by the HSE.

Funding cannot be spent on informal care from a partner or close relative or to pay for supports that would normally be provided by another Government Department or Statutory Agency, e.g. housing.

The Personalsied Budget pilot is open to adults with a disability that are currently in receipt of HSE funded services. This included appropriate school leavers in 2019 and 2020.

It is hoped that the pilot will have up to 180 participants over two phases who access day services, residential services, respite services, rehabilitative training and personal assistance.

Some other variables that the HSE are also considering in relation to the sample of participants include types of disability, complexity of need, CHO and type of funding models.

In order to take part in the pilot, participants submitted an expression of interest. Expressions of interest for phase 2 closed in September 2020 and the HSE received 136 applications. Due to COVID-19 there was a pause in processing applications, so applications are still being processed.

There are currently 55 participants in the various stages of the pilot. This means that the pilot is running behind schedule. This is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the closure of services, and then the knock-on effect that this has had in making it difficult to recruit staff for the HSE team. The current restrictions are negatively impacting with the HSE’s ability to meet with individuals and progress.

The Personalised Budget Office continues to embed the option of Personalised Budgets in each CHO through regular linking with Disability Managers and Day Opportunity Co-ordinators, to offer advice and problem solving for participants.

In November 2020, I approved an extension to the pilot project until June 2022. This will facilitate applicant participation of 12 months minimum and allow time for a robust evaluation to be completed thereafter.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (575)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

575. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if a fully vaccinated person who has the required PCR test 72 hours before arriving from the USA into Ireland and locator form whether they do or do not have to do the mandatory five day quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34019/21]

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Written answers

Under the current public health travel measures, as provided in S.I. No 45/2021 and S.I. 135 /2021, travellers arriving to Ireland from all overseas jurisdictions (including the USA) are required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form and to present evidence of a negative / non-detected pre-departure RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival. 

Those who have not been to a designated state within 14 days of arrival are also required to quarantine at home for 14 days. The quarantine period can end once the traveller obtains a negative result from a PCR test taken no less than 5 days after arrival. 

International travel policy is kept under continuous consideration and Government is responding proactively to balancing the risks associated with increased travel with the re-opening of society and non-essential overseas travel. 

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (576, 577)

Michael McNamara

Question:

576. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if the State is adhering to COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION (EU) 2020/1475 of 13 October 2020 and amended on 28 January 2021 and 14 June 2021 on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. [34101/21]

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Michael McNamara

Question:

577. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the reason arrivals at Irish airports from areas marked Green on the ECDC Map published in support of the Council Recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the Covid-19 pandemic are subject to restrictions, defined in paragraph 17(2) in COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION (EU) 2020/1475 as a test for Covid-19 infection prior to and or after arrival in the form of a PCR test both before and after arrival in the State. [34100/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 576and 577 together.

The Government has applied more stringent measures applying to international travel in order to mitigate against the risk of new variants being imported through travel and to protect the progress we are making in suppressing transmission domestically. The Government continues to advise against non-essential international travel.

At present, travellers arriving to Ireland are required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form and to have evidence of a negative pre-departure PCR test. Travellers  who have not been in a designated state within 14 days of arrival are also required to home quarantine.  

These travel measures are kept under continuous review based on public health advice and the international epidemiological situation. The Government has announced revised travel policies to take effect from 19 July in keeping with the EU Digital Covid Certificate. Work to give effect to these measures is progressing on a cross-departmental basis. 

Vaccination Programme

Questions (578, 579)

James Lawless

Question:

578. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the vaccination of third-level students studying abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34451/21]

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Réada Cronin

Question:

579. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health his plans to guarantee vaccination for Erasmus students that will be leaving the State for up to ten months in August and September 2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34497/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 578 and 579 together.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.

On the 23rd of February, I announced an update to Ireland’s COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy. In comprising the initial Vaccine Allocation Strategy, the NIAC listed several conditions associated with increased risk of severe disease and death. In the intervening period, national and international evidence has become available which has enabled a more detailed analysis of underlying conditions that may increase the risk of developing severe disease or death. The NIAC has now been able to more comprehensively identify those medical conditions and to distinguish between those which place a person at very high or high risk of severe disease if they contract the virus. Medical conditions and the magnitude of the risk they pose will continue to be monitored and periodically reviewed.

On the 30th of March, the Government approved a further update to the COVID-19 Vaccination Allocation Strategy. Based on clinical, scientific and ethical frameworks produced by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and my Department of Health, following the vaccination of those most at risk, future groups will be vaccinated by age, in cohorts of 10 years (i.e., 64-55; 54-45, etc.).

The move to an age-based model better supports the programme objectives by:

- protecting those at highest risk of severe disease first, which benefits everyone most;

- facilitating planning and execution of the programme across the entire country;

- improving transparency and fairness.

Further details on the updated allocation strategy are available here:

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/93f8f-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-irelands-vaccination-prioritisation-list/

You may wish to note that vaccine registration for those aged 35 to 39 has opened.

The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is the responsibility of the HSE. You can find more information on the rollout of the vaccine and the progress of vaccinations here:

https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/rollout/

It is important to emphasise that vaccination is only one part of our response to the prevention of COVID-19 infection. People who are vaccinated need to continue with all the public health measures that have been proven to reduce the risk of infection, i.e., limiting our social contacts, physical distancing, wearing a mask, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and avoiding non-essential travel until a sufficiently large proportion of the population are immune.

Question No. 579 answered with Question No. 578.

Farm Inspections

Questions (580)

Brian Leddin

Question:

580. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of inspectors employed by his Department to inspect dairy farms in 2011 and 2021; the number of inspections that were carried out in 2011 and that will be carried out in 2021 on dairy farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34249/21]

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Written answers

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine employed 16 Inspectors whose duties included inspection of dairy farms in 2011. In 2021 there are 16 inspectors whose duties include inspection of dairy farms.

There were 286 dairy farm inspections completed in 2011 and 418 dairy farm inspections are planned for 2021.

Animal Diseases

Questions (581)

Brian Leddin

Question:

581. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cases of mastitis recorded per 100 dairy cows in Ireland annually from 2011 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34250/21]

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Written answers

The incidence of clinical mastitis in dairy cattle varies widely, due to differences in a range of factors including climate, level of production and management.

Mastitis is a disease that farmers are not obligated to report to the Department and, therefore, the data requested in relation to mastitis cases recorded at farm level is not available.

Animal Culls

Questions (582)

Brian Leddin

Question:

582. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of spent dairy cows slaughtered each year; the number of slaughterhouses accepting spent dairy cows; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34251/21]

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Written answers

There are currently 33 slaughterhouses classifying beef carcasses. The information provided by such businesses is determined by EU legislation in this regard. The number of cows slaughtered across all 33 slaughterhouses is set out in the Table below. Slaughter figures are not broken down into either the breed or the type of cow that is slaughtered, so it is not possible to give an exact figure for spent dairy cows as requested by the Deputy.

Year

Number of cows

2011

336,398

2012

329,803

2013

367,604

2014

366,295

2015

320,620

2016

358,563

2017

374,013

2018

397,879

2019

348,143

2020

367,723

Greyhound Industry

Questions (583)

Brian Leddin

Question:

583. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date of death of a greyhound (details supplied); the number of greyhound pups sired by them since their death; the year of birth of each of these pups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34252/21]

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Written answers

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

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.

Greyhound Industry

Questions (584)

Brian Leddin

Question:

584. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhound litters born via FSI mating, surgical implantation of female in each of the years from 2010 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34253/21]

View answer

Written answers

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

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.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (585)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

585. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined in relation to the REAP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34306/21]

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Written answers

The Results-Based Environment Agri Pilot Project (REAP) is an ambitious, farmer-friendly environmental project designed to test the results based approach on a variety of farm types. The project will feed into the development of the next national agri-environment scheme to follow on from GLAS. REAP is designed to focus on key learning objectives for participants and their advisors.

As REAP was oversubscribed, a ranking and selection process was used to assess applications. This process considered the presence of priority water areas, (as defined by the EPA), and the proportion of Natura and ANC land on the holding. The application of the person named scored less than the minimum score set for consideration for entry. The details of the selection process are listed in section 10 of the REAP terms and conditions.

Letters have now issued to all REAP applicants advising on the outcome of their application. Any farmer who receives notification to state their application has been unsuccessful may request a review of this decision by writing to the REAP section at the Department. Full details of the review option and contact details have been provided in the correspondence that has issued.

Animal Diseases

Questions (586)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

586. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will accept scanning as proof as pregnancy in cases in which there are TB reactors in a herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34348/21]

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Written answers

Under the Terms and Conditions of the TB Compensation Scheme, as set out on page 19 of the Compensation booklet sets:

“Scans are not accepted by the Department as a means of verifying the pregnancy. The post mortem result carried out at the factory of slaughter is final in this regard”.

The Department does not accept scans as evidence of pregnancy since the post-mortem examination of reactors carried out in the factory is conducted by the TVI who is a qualified veterinary surgeon – this examination includes a visual examination of the uterus. This is the most accurate way to determine pregnancy status.

Furthermore, the pregnancy status of cattle may change between when the scan was carried out and when the animal was slaughtered and examined post-mortem. As the Deputy will be aware, the rates of foetal loss can be high, particularly in early pregnancy.

The TB compensation scheme is designed to ensure that all affected herdowners receive suitable compensation for each animal in question, the above method for determining pregnancy in a reactor animals ensures fairness to all herd-owners. It is important that factors influencing the rate of compensation payable for TB reactors are based on objective evidence and the Department considers that the examination of the uterus post-mortem by a veterinary surgeon fulfils this requirement in this regard.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (587)

Seán Canney

Question:

587. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the beef plan movement has been excluded from the beef taskforce forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34355/21]

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Written answers

The Beef Taskforce was established by the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on foot of the beef sector agreement of 15th September 2019. The TaskForce is comprised of named individuals who were nominated at that time by the parties to that Agreement.

The Beef Taskforce remit was to monitor the implementation of the actions arising from the agreement reached on 15th September. According to the terms of reference, the Taskforce was to meet at least quarterly from October 2019 for a period of one year after which the Taskforce’s progress was to be reviewed. However, progress was delayed in 2020 due to COVID-19.

I have requested the independent Chair of the Beef Taskforce, Mr Michael Dowling, to provide a report to me on the progress to date of the Taskforce. It is my understanding that the majority of the actions are now implemented but I await the final report, after which I will make the necessary decision on future strategic engagement with the Sector.

Issues around the participation of the organisation named are an internal matter for that organisation and one which neither myself or my Department has any role in. We have engaged at different times with both sides and urged mediation with a view to reconciliation which regretfully has not been possible. The individuals who sit on the Taskforce are the original nominees from the organisation and to replace or exclude them at this very late stage would not be appropriate.

Common Agricultural Policy

Questions (588)

Matt Carthy

Question:

588. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is committed to ensure that the upper limit pillar 1 CAP payment allowable for any single applicant should be set at €60,000 is an absolute figure and that there should not be loopholes or disregards applicable to such a figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34362/21]

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Written answers

Provisional agreement on the CAP reform package has been reached by the Presidency and the Parliament. The full details of the agreement will be presented at the Council of Ministers on 28 and 29 June, where it is hoped that final overall agreement will be reached.

As far as capping of payments is concerned, I will of course have to apply limits that are in keeping with the parameters set out in the regulations. Nevertheless, I intend to consider the flexibilities that have been provided and to consult with stakeholders in this regard over the coming months.

I will continue to work to achieve the best possible outcome for Irish farmers.

Common Agricultural Policy

Questions (589)

Matt Carthy

Question:

589. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the proposals he has made at EU level in relation to the upper limit pillar 1 CAP payment allowable for any single applicant should be set at €60,000; if he has sought to ensure that the final CAP will have the flexibility for this limit to be enacted at a national level should it not be enacted EU-wide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34363/21]

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Written answers

Last October, the Agri-fish Council of Ministers agreed the general approach on the CAP Reform Package. In the Council General Approach, I negotiated for the subsidiarity for Member States to apply capping of payments.

Some of the basic principles around these figures were agreed in the Multi-annual Financial Framework 2021-2027 earlier last year, and transferred across. However, the proposals agreed at Council would see this capping extended further in a degressive manner. These flexibilities would allow Member States to implement capping on a degressive basis starting from €60,000 and rising to 100% capping above €100,000 of the new BISS payment.

In all these negotiations, I have continuously fought for Ireland to have the maximum flexibility to implement the new CAP regulations, including flexibility on the issue of capping of BISS payments to ensure the best outcome for Irish farmers. The political agreement reached yesterday provides for voluntary capping at €100,000, and further degressivity, or reduction of payments for payments over €60,000 whichI have continually supported as a way of bringing fairness and equality to the CAP. These options will be considered along with the other elements of the agreement in the course of consultations that will take place with stakeholders over the coming weeks and months.

Common Agricultural Policy

Questions (590)

Matt Carthy

Question:

590. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it will be ensured that the CAP Strategic Plan is brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas for approval and amendment prior to being submitted to the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34364/21]

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Written answers

I have, with my officials, engaged extensively with the key stakeholders on the future of the CAP and the development of the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. This engagement will continue, in particular through the Stakeholder Consultative Committee, which has been a constructive and crucial body in shaping the current CAP, which comprises representatives of the main farm bodies, NGOs, industry, and academia, as well as the relevant Government departments and agencies. The Oireachtas has also received regular updates on the CAP negotiations at official and Ministerial level.

The development of the CSP involves a number of stages, including SWOT analysis, needs assessment, intervention design, financial allocations, target setting (including monitoring) and governance systems. The draft CSP will also be subject to an ex-ante evaluation, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment.

The Department will be conducting a statutory and public consultation on the draft CSP and the draft Environmental Report later this year. It is also my intention to write to the Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and the Marine to formally seek its views.

I will take the outcome of the consultation process and the views of the Oireachtas Committee into consideration before seeking the approval of Government and submitting Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 to the Commission by the deadline of 1st January 2022.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (591)

Carol Nolan

Question:

591. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts being made to provide flexibility on the reduction period under the beef emergency aid measure scheme, specifically the requirement to meet the 5% nitrogen reduction element of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34385/21]

View answer

Written answers

The 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 of 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 and secured an alternative reduction period for those who require it. In that context, since 19th March 2021, BEAM participants were able to select the alternative reduction period of 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021 over which to meet their 5% reduction.

This facility remained open until 21st June 2021 and some 16,000 BEAM participants have opted for the deferred reduction period. Farmers who opted to defer but who find that they have met the 5% reduction requirement by 30th June 2021 will be advised in writing that they are being removed from the deferred reduction period of 1st January - 31st December 2021 as they have met their BEAM scheme requirements. The Department will be writing to them in August 2021 when the final bovine figures up to the 30th June 2021 are available.

Farmers who have experienced restriction(s) due to an outbreak of TB on their holding during the reduction period have had their 5% bovine nitrates reduction requirement reduced in line with the length of their restriction(s). Any BEAM participant who is currently still in a TB restriction will see their 5% bovine nitrates reduction requirement reduce over the duration of that restriction. Letters explaining this process issued in recent weeks to some 2,000 BEAM participants who fell into this category and, as new restrictions are registered, further letters will issue to BEAM participants concerned.

The Department continues to provide a monthly update to all BEAM participants with the bovine figures up to 30th April 2021 available on Agfood.ie. The monthly letter containing these bovine numbers has issued to BEAM participants in recent weeks and a letter detailing the bovine figures on participant holdings up to 30th May will issue in mid-July.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (592)

Carol Nolan

Question:

592. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding provided to the BEAM scheme by the EU and Ireland, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34386/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) provided temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland in 2019. It was provided in light of the difficult circumstances that Irish beef farmers had been facing as a result of the market volatility and uncertainty. The scheme was subject to the conditions set out in EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132.

Payments totalling €77.86 million issued under the scheme in 2019. The European Union provided €50m support to Ireland and the balance was paid from national funds.

Common Agricultural Policy

Questions (593)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

593. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the EU farm to fork strategy specifically details forestry related measures for potential inclusion in new eco or environmental schemes in the next CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34423/21]

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Written answers

The Farm to Fork (F2F) Strategy forms part of the European Green Deal (EGD) which is the EU strategy for sustainable growth. The F2F Strategy is at the heart of the EGD: it addresses the challenges of sustainable food systems and recognises the links between healthy people, healthy societies and a healthy planet.

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will help this sustainability transition and strengthen the efforts of European farmers to tackle climate change and protect the environment. The draft CAP regulation currently offers farmers a number of ways to contribute to our climate and environmental ambitions, including through eco-schemes and agri-environment climate measures.

Trialogue negotiations between the Commission, European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, aimed at reaching a final agreement on the new CAP have now concluded. While political agreement has been reached, further work remains on technical details of the proposed reforms and the final shape of the new legislative framework will now be examined carefully.

The development of measures, including individual actions on tree planting, is an ongoing process. My Department remains available to engage with all stakeholders to discuss any ideas on any aspect of next CAP.

I will continue to work to achieve the best possible outcome for Irish farmers.

Common Agricultural Policy

Questions (594)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

594. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the EU farm to fork strategy details carbon farming and specifically forestry related activities as part of any new eco or environmental scheme in the next CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34424/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Farm to Fork Strategy, a key pillar of the European Green Deal, was published in May 2020. It includes reference to a new EU model of financially supporting farmers and foresters for sequestering carbon on their farms.

The Strategy identifies that farming practices that remove CO2 from the atmosphere contribute to the climate neutrality objective and should be rewarded, either via the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) or other public or private initiatives (carbon market).

The new Common Agricultural Policy allows options to provide support for environmental action on farms, through the establishment of eco schemes that would make a proportion of Pillar I direct payments conditional on additional environmental action, or by encouraging specific additional environmental action through schemes established in Pillar II Rural Development Programme Schemes. Such measures could reward action to increase carbon sequestration on farms, for example, by encouraging sustainable management practices to reduce carbon loss from land.

Most recently the European Commission has published a Technical Guidance Handbook on setting up and implementing result-based carbon farming mechanisms which my officials are currently reviewing.

Through AgClimatise, the National Climate and Air Roadmap for the Agriculture Sector, I have committed to develop a pilot scheme for on-farm carbon trading, recognising the importance that our farmers play in storing carbon at farm level.

To build the knowledge and evidence base to support such a scheme, there are a number of new research projects and pilot studies in recent months, such as the National Soil Sampling Programme, which seek to improve the measurement of the greenhouse gas emission profile of Irish farms, which will be essential in providing the necessary data to realise the potential of carbon farming in Ireland. In addition projects such as the EIP Rewetting of Farmed Peatland Pilot Projects, along with the establishment of a National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory will all aim to address the knowledge deficit surrounding on farm carbon balances.

The Farm to Fork Strategy also includes a commitment for a legislative proposal to reduce the EU’s contribution to global deforestation and forest degradation.

The Department already supports afforestation, in a variety of configurations. Such planting can make an important contribution to carbon sequestration and the development of a new Forestry Strategy will look at ways to further enhance and support afforestation in Ireland.

Common Agricultural Policy

Questions (595)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

595. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the four flagship eco schemes announced as part of the Farm to Fork Strategy have been discussed by the CAP consultative committee; the way in which the forestry or afforestation component has been included in new eco or environmental schemes in the next CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34428/21]

View answer

Written answers

In October 2020, the European Commission published an illustrative list of examples of Eco-Schemes as announced in the Farm to Fork Strategy. This list was not presented to the CAP Consultative Committee as a stand alone item. However, it fed into discussions at Eco-Scheme and Green Architecture Workshops for Consultative Committee members on 19th November and 10th December 2020.

Based on the draft CAP Regulations, an overview of Ireland's proposed Eco-Scheme framework was presented to the CAP Consultative Committee for their consideration on 20th May 2021.

Negotiations between the Commission, European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, aimed at reaching a final agreement on the new CAP Regulations, are still ongoing. The final shape of the new legislative framework will only be clear when this process concludes.

I will continue to examine all options presented during the negotiations, with the objective of achieving the best possible outcome for Irish agriculture. The development of measures, including possible actions on tree planting under the Eco-Scheme and other environmental schemes, is still an ongoing process.

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