Written Answers Nos. 3379-3401
3379. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he plans to take to address the long waiting lists for afforestation, road and felling licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39544/21]
View answer3407. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress being achieved in relation to clearing the backlog of felling licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40381/21]
View answer3422. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts he is taking to address the backlog of applications for tree felling licences across the country and the low update in forestry grants by farmers as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40695/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 3379, 3407 and 3422 together.
The delay in issuing forestry licences is a pressing one which is receiving my full priority. Addressing the number on hand is foremost and the number of licences issued recently shows that we are making some progress in this regard. Improvements have been made to the system for the preparation of Appropriate Assessment Screening Determinations, Appropriate Assessment Reports and Appropriate Assessment Determinations. Currently, these improvements are only applied to private tree felling licence applications and our ecologists are working mostly on these felling applications in advance of the system being developed further to assist with forest road works and afforestation licence applications. This was notified to Registered Foresters in Circular 8 of 2021.
Using the system improvements and additional staff resources, June was the highest month for the issuing of private felling licences in over five years and included 226 private felling licences or an average rate of over 50 private felling licences a week. In total, the Department was issuing an average of 95 licences in the seven weeks to end of June, which was a 50% increase on previous weeks this year.
This rate will not continue into mid-August, as the Department has introduced a second public consultation stage once an application has been screened in and assessed by an ecologist. This new requirement was notified to Registered Foresters in Circular 10 of 2021. However, I expect the rate to pick up again from mid-August onwards.
Initiatives under Project Woodland will bring further improvements in licensing efficiency and output. There are recommendations with the Project Board, which oversees the Working Groups, for such initiatives, including proposals for a pre-application process and an environmental grant. A business system analyst is conducting a review of the licensing process. We have also announced that an independent expert is being commissioned to carry out a review of the forestry licensing process.
There are many reasons why landowners decide not to plant forestry, including competition for other land uses and change of ownership. There is no doubt however, that delays in licensing is a contributory factor. From engagements with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, we are addressing these delays through Project Woodland, which will bring improvements in licence processing efficiency and output. The Project Board overseeing Project Woodland has issued their first interim report on the main recommendations received form the Working Groups to date and some recommended next steps.
We are committed to issuing 4,500 forestry licences this year, which is a 75% increase on last year’s output. The Department has now issued 1,900 forestry licences this year (to 23rd July), which is 25% up on the same time last year. We are making progress and I am hopeful that further gains in efficiency will be possible due to these proposals, which will see a knock-on in increased afforestation rates.
3380. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the total amount spent on badger culling by his Department in the past ten years in County Wicklow; the number of badgers that have been culled each year in the same time period in the county; and the research that has been carried out to research the impact of culling on the prevalence of tuberculosis. [39594/21]
View answerThe total spent on badger culling by his Department in the past ten years in County Wicklow: The information requested is not readily available. DAFM’s Wildlife Programme is delivered by 16 Regional Veterinary offices throughout the country (RVOs) (Enniscorthy RVO covers East Wicklow and Naas RVO covers West Wicklow). It involves the use of civilian operatives, equipment and supplies (e.g. restraints, anaesthetic, vaccination (BCG)) which are provided to DAFM under various contracts for the provision of goods and services. Orders made by DAFM under these contracts (and related expenditure) are based on the requirements of the Programme as a whole, rather than the needs of individual RVOs. While the allocation of supplies to RVOs are made from a central stores according to RVO demands, records are not maintained in a manner that identifies the total spend on badger vaccination or culling on a county by county basis.
The number of badgers that have been culled each year in the same time period in the county:
|
Year |
Culled |
Culled |
|
Wicklow East |
Wicklow West |
|
|
Jan to July 2021 |
84 |
56 |
|
2020 |
148 |
185 |
|
2019 |
130 |
148 |
|
2018 |
101 |
129 |
|
2017 |
165 |
189 |
|
2016 |
149 |
197 |
|
2015 |
176 |
54 |
|
2014 |
219 |
38 |
|
2013 |
177 |
36 |
|
2012 |
262 |
36 |
|
2011 |
149 |
52 |
Research into impact of culling on prevalence of tuberculosis
Badger culling has been demonstrated to be highly effective in reducing the burden of bovine TB on Irish family farms for over 20 years. Badgers were first identified as being susceptible to infection with Mycobacterium bovis (M.bovis), the bacterium that causes bovine tuberculosis (bTB), during the 1970s. Further research concluded that badgers were likely to have been involved in the recycling of bTB in cattle and concluded that eradication of bTB from the national herd would not be feasible until TB in badgers was addressed and controlled. The main research publications relating to the impact of culling of badgers on TB prevalence are set out below.
Eves, J.A., 1993. The East Offaly Badger Research project: an interim report. The Badger. In: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, pp. 166–173.
Eves, J.A., 1999. Impact of badger removal on bovine tuberculosis in east County Offaly. Ir. Vet. J. 52, 199–203
O’Mairtin, D., Williams, D.H., Griffin, J.M., Dolan, L.A., Eves, J.A., 1998. The effect of a badger removal programme on the incidence of tuberculosis in an Irish cattle population. Prev. Vet. Med. 34, 47–56.
O’Mairtin, D., Williams, D.H., Dolan, L., Eves, J.A., Collins, J.D., 1998. The influence of selected herd factors and a badger-intervention tuberculosis-control programme on the risk of a herd-level trade restriction to a bovine population in Ireland. Prev. Vet. Med. 35, 79–90.
Griffin et al Griffin, J.M., More, S.J., Clegg, T.A., Collins, J.D., O’Boyle, I., Williams, D.H., Kelly, G.E., Costello, E., Sleeman, D.P., O’Shea, F., Duggan, M., Murphy, J., Lavin, D.P.T., 2005. Tuberculosis in cattle: the results of the four-area project. Irish Veterinary Journal 58, 629-636.
Griffin, J.M., Williams, D.H., Kelly, G.E., Clegg, T.A., O’Boyle, I., Collins, J.D., More, S.J., 2005. The impact of badger removal on the control of tuberculosis in cattle herds in Ireland. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 67, 237-266.
3381. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the total amount spent on the vaccination of badgers for tuberculosis by his Department in the past ten years in County Wicklow in tabular form; the number of vaccinations that have been administered to the badger population in the same time period in the county; and the research that has been carried out on the impact of vaccination as a means of dealing with the prevalence of tuberculosis in the badger population. [39587/21]
View answerThe total spent on badger vaccination in the past ten years in County Wicklow:
The information requested is not readily available. DAFM’s Wildlife Programme is delivered by 16 Regional Veterinary offices throughout the country (RVOs). It involves the use of civilian operatives, equipment and supplies (e.g. restraints, anaesthetic, vaccination (BCG)) which are provided to DAFM under various contracts for the provision of goods and services. Orders made by DAFM under these contracts (and related expenditure) are based on the requirements of the Programme as a whole, rather than the needs of individual RVOs. While the allocation of supplies to RVOs are made from a central stores according to RVO demands, records are not maintained in a manner that identifies the total spend on badger vaccination or culling on a county by county basis.
Badgers have been vaccinated in a small area in East Wicklow for a number of years as part of a TCD/DAFM collaborative research project on the ecology of badger social groups and the M11 motorway development. (DAFM provided €259k funding.)
In 2018 badger vaccination became part of DAFM national policy and is now subsumed into the overall badger programme in Enniscorthy RVO which covers East Wicklow. Naas RVO covers West Wicklow where no badger vaccination currently takes place.
The number of badgers vaccinated:
|
Year |
Badgers vaccinated |
|
2010 |
24 |
|
2011 |
11 |
|
2012 |
16 |
|
2013 |
9 |
|
2014 |
18 |
|
2015 |
25 |
|
2016 |
30 |
|
2017 |
11 |
|
2019 |
35 |
|
2020 |
34 |
|
2021 |
34 |
|
Total |
247 |
Vaccination - a means of dealing with TB
A field trial in County Kilkenny using the BCG vaccine and a blind placebo demonstrated that vaccination, with an efficacy of 60%, could lower the R value (reproductive ratio) of badger to badger TB spread from 1.22 to 0.5. The Non-Inferiority Trial was established in 7 areas of the country over 7 years, finishing in 2017. With the efficacy of BCG vaccination in reducing the spread of M.Bovis between badgers proven, this trial examined if vaccinating badgers would keep spread to cattle suppressed. A large part of a county was subject to badger vaccination and was compared to culling badgers (in response to TB breakdowns) in another similarly sized part of the county.
Further Information
- The policy is to convert all areas to vaccination when the conditions for conversion apply.
- As part of the above ecological study, when the N11 was upgraded to M11 status, 90% of the badgers in the vicinity of the road building were vaccinated to mitigate against spread of TB into adjacent cattle populations. Badgers were monitored over many years. This information is published in peer reviewed journals.
3382. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans he has to show his appreciation for all front-line workers under his remit other than a clap on the back; if he is planning a bonus, gratuity payment for all those workers who have been struggling and worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic; if so, when this will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39617/21]
View answerThe Department appreciates the work of all its staff dealing with the challenges presented during the COVID-19 pandemic, including those in meat plants, laboratories, ports and fishery harbour centres. All the staff at the Department, whether working from home or from the workplace, have responded and worked diligently to continue to provide a service and carry out their duties at all times, even through difficult and unforeseen circumstances.
Public sector pay policy is not determined by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
3383. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process by which the SFPA will appoint a sea fisheries protection officer in County Donegal; if consideration has been given to candidates on the existing panel for appointment of this position; if this panel is still in use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39677/21]
View answerSection 50 (1) of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 provides that the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) may, with my consent and with the consent of the Minister for Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (formerly known as Department of Finance), appoint persons to be members of its staff as it considers necessary to assist it in the performance of its functions.
My Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) implement delegated sanction arrangements for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority’s pay and staffing. In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Delegated Sanction framework, the SFPA submits a report detailing its recruitment plans which is monitored by my Department to ensure allocated pay ceilings are adhered to. Additionally, the SFPA strictly complies with all relevant Human Resource circulars issued by DPER.
The information requested with respect to the recruitment process and the utilisation of panels is an operational matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the SFPA directly and have requested that a response be issued within 10 days.
3384. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the agencies and State organisations under his Department that are receiving State funding that do not have to declare salaries of employees under the 2016 code of governance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40029/21]
View answerAccording to the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016, as described in the Business and Financial Reporting Requirements document, State Bodies are required to report on several items including, but not limited to, their total number of employees, the total volume of expenditure on wages and salaries, and the salaries of their key personnel and Chief Executive Officer. These are to be disclosed in the State Bodies’ Annual Reports unless they have received a derogation from their parent Department.
In response to the Deputy’s query regarding the State funded organisations under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I can confirm that all but one of these organisations declare their employees salaries according to the Code of Governance of State Bodies.
By derogation, Horse Racing Ireland does not disclose details of the number of employees whose total employee benefits (excluding pension costs), for any given reporting period, fall within each band of €25,000 from €50,000 upwards.
3385. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify the operation of the TAMS five-year rule with regard to eligibility for grant aid for a second grant application under TAMS in circumstances in which the applicant would have previously benefited under TAMS 1; if this second application is impacted by the ranking in selection process applied to TAMS applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40093/21]
View answerTAMS is a demand led scheme with a maximum eligible investment ceiling under TAMS II of €80,000 per holding, except in the case of partnerships. This ceiling applies to investments made under TAMS II and is not impacted by investments previously made under TAMS I.
All TAMS II applications submitted are initially subject to a ranking and selection process with applications that meet the relevant qualifying mark progressing to the next stage The ranking and selection marking sheet is individual to each of the seven measures available under TAMS II. Marks are awarded to applicants who didn't receive grant aid under TAMS 1 with a reduction in marks for grant-aid received for relevant investments. The full details of the terms and conditions and marking sheets for the ranking and selection process for each of the seven measure under TAMS ll are available on the Department’s website.
3386. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Belgian FMVs are allowed land fish in Ireland without weighing as part of the EU Commission approved control programme between Ireland and Belgium; if this agreement allows for fish to be landed at non-designated ports such as Dún Laoghaire; if so, the location this agreement is set out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40101/21]
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.
I should advise the Deputy that the monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are law enforcement 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. I am expressly precluded from getting involved in operational matters such as those referred to by the Deputy.
In order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have made enquiries of the SFPA and am advised that with the exception below, all vessels regardless of their nationality are required to weigh fish on landing prior to transport away from the place of landing.
By way of exception from this requirement, fish to be transported to registered establishments in either France or Belgium may be weighed in France or Belgium under provisions in place under Common Control Programs. These regulations apply to vessels from all Member States landing into Irish ports.
I have referred the Deputy's question requesting further operational details on this matter to the SFPA for attention and direct reply.
3387. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the Seafood Sector Taskforce; the bodies which are represented on the Taskforce; the way in which coastal and island communities and inshore fishers are represented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40160/21]
View answer3388. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will publish the minutes of the Seafood Sector Taskforce on his Department’s website. [40161/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 3387 and 3388 together.
In March 2021, I established a Seafood Sector Task Force to examine the negative impacts of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the UK on Ireland's fishing fleet and on related coastal communities and to recommend mitigation measures to me that could be taken to provide supports for development and restructuring in order to ensure a profitable and sustainable fishing fleet and to identify opportunities for jobs and economic activity in coastal communities dependent on fishing.
The Task Force itself is chaired by Aiden Cotter who is supported by steering group members Margaret Daly and Michéal O’Cinneide. Committee members are detailed in the table below. BIM acts as secretariat to the Task Force. Any questions relating to minutes of the Task Force meetings should be addressed to the secretariat .
In addition to the significant industry representation on the Task Force, including from coastal and island communities and inshore fishers, the Task Force also undertook a public consultation which ran until the 22nd April to ensure that all concerned stakeholders could put forward submissions or observations. The public consultation resulted in 27 submissions to the Task Force.
On 9th June I received an Interim Report of the Task Force which recommends the implementation, on a voluntary basis, of a temporary fleet tie-up scheme for certain segments of the fishing fleet, to mitigate the loss of income in 2021 for these fleets arising from the TCA quota reductions. The Interim Report recommends that this scheme be funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. A State Aid approval from the European Commission is also required.
The Final Report, due later this year, will include other Task Force proposals to support our fishing sector and our coastal communities that are dependent on fishing.
I await receipt of the Final Report and will give due consideration to any proposals made by the Task Force.
In addition to the Steering Group the task force committee is made up of participants from the following organisations:
Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation
Irish Fish Producers Organisation
Irish South & West Fishermen’s Organisation
Irish South & East Fishermen’s Organisation
Irish Islands Marine Resource Producer Organisation
National Inshore Fisheries Forum
Clogherhead Fishermen’s Cooperative
Galway & Aran Fishermen’s Cooperative
Castletownbere Fishermen’s Cooperative
Foyle Fishermen’s Cooperative
Irish Fish Processors & Exporters Organisation
Irish farmers Association (aquaculture branch)
Fisheries Local Action Groups
Irish Local Development Network (ILDN)
Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (secretariat)
Bord Bia
Enterprise Ireland
Fáilte Ireland
Local Government Management Agency (two coastal local authority representatives)
Údarás na Gaeltachta
3389. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to invest strategically in harbour infrastructure to attract increased landings into Ireland of sustainably caught fish in Irish waters, driving the development of the seafood processing sector and the blue economy in coastal communities. [40162/21]
View answerMy Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902, and piers, lights and beacons constructed under the auspices of the Congested Districts Board.
Funding is made available on an annual basis by my Department to the Fishery Harbour Centres, via the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Since 2010, €140million has been invested in this Department-owned infrastructure.
The responsibility for the development and maintenance of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each Local Authority in the first instance and their parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage thereafter.
However, my Department has, as part of its annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, provided limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways in their ownership. Since 2010, over €31 million in funding has been provided by my Department under this scheme.
In continuance of the Governments investments in Marine Infrastructures to date, this year I announced details of a further €38.3m Capital Investment Package (2021 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme) for the ongoing development of Ireland’s publicly owned harbour network including Local Authority Harbours across 12 coastal Local Authorities.
In line with the Government commitments, my Department continues to strategically invest in the Fishery Harbour Centres. This includes increasing landing capacity at both Castletownbere, Killybegs and Howth Fishery Harbour Centres through pier extensions.
Additionally, under this year’s programme, I approved funding of €4.2m for a significantly enhanced programme to assist coastal Local Authorities undertake and complete 79 development and repair projects on harbours and slipways owned by them. The package provides funding for maintenance and repair works in addition to supporting the ongoing development and enhancement of harbour facilities, including some marine leisure developments.
3390. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress in addressing recommendation 8.8 (1) of the Independent Aquaculture Licensing Review Group. [40163/21]
View answer3391. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress in addressing recommendation 8.8 (3) of the Independent Aquaculture Licensing Review Group. [40164/21]
View answer3392. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress in addressing recommendation 8.10 (1) of the Independent Aquaculture Licensing Review Group. [40165/21]
View answer3393. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress in addressing recommendation 8.13 (1) of the Independent Aquaculture Licensing Review Group. [40166/21]
View answer3394. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress in addressing recommendation 8.13 (2) of the Independent Aquaculture Licensing Review Group. [40167/21]
View answer3395. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress in addressing recommendation 8.16 (1) of the Independent Aquaculture Licensing Review Group. [40168/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 3390 to 3395, inclusive, together.
The Independent Aquaculture Licensing Review Group carried out a detailed examination of the existing aquaculture licensing process, undertook comprehensive stakeholder consultation and examined comparative national and international consent systems to determine best practice for managing a complex licensing process in a transparent, environmentally appropriate and legally robust manner.
One of the main drivers for the Review was the backlog of aquaculture licence applications which arose as a result of a negative judgment against Ireland for breaches of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. A key recommendation of the Report was that my Department put in place a strategy to eliminate the backlog of licence applications. This has been the primary focus of my Department since the publication of the Report and has resulted in over 700 licence determinations being made since 2017. The backlog in shellfish licensing has now been eliminated as an issue affecting the industry and significant progress is also being made in relation to the processing of applications for marine finfish aquaculture licences.
In addition, my Department has secured funding from the European Maritime Fisheries Fund to undertake the development of GIS modelling, to include, the spatial mapping of aquaculture sites. This key technical infrastructure is required to underpin the development of an on-line aquaculture licensing facility, as recommended by the Review Group.
The implementation of the Licensing Review Group Report forms an important part of the current Programme for Government and my Department is currently preparing an Implementation Programme in respect of the remaining recommendations of the Report with a view to their implementation, both as they apply directly to my Department and to the Agencies of my Department, having regard to the legislative, environmental, technical and public interest issues that arise.
3396. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will add shearing as a qualification measure for the sheep welfare scheme. [40169/21]
View answerI am very conscious of the important role that the sheep sector plays in the continued growth and development of our agri-food sector, and its valuable contribution to the rural economy. I fully support the sheep sector.
The strong performance of the sector in 2020 has continued into 2021. Reductions in production globally and increased demand are expected to support continued strong performance throughout 2021. The current average price as reported on 22nd July is €6.33 per kg, which is 20% above the same period last year.
The Sheep Welfare Scheme was introduced in December 2016 as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme, having been agreed with the European Commission. In the four years of the scheme to date, €66.9 million has been paid to 18,268 farmers. The Sheep Welfare scheme has been extended in 2021 as part of the transition arrangements prior to the next CAP. There are currently no plans to add additional measures to this Scheme.
3397. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide new entrants to the sheep welfare scheme with a rolling reference number to allow them to establish their flock. [40170/21]
View answerThe Sheep Welfare Scheme was launched in December 2016 and provides a valuable support to farmers for undertaking actions which make a positive contribution to flock welfare. The scheme was initially set-up as a four year scheme, which was renewable annually. The initial four year period expired on the 31st of January 2021. An allocation of an additional €17m in funding was provided in Budget 2021 to extend the scheme for a fifth year as we enter the transitionary period ahead of the introduction of the new Common Agricultural Policy. An amendment to the RDP was required to give affect to the extension of the Sheep Welfare Scheme for a fifth year.
The use of an historical reference period was included in the scheme terms and conditions when the scheme was launched. It was approved by the European Commission at the time, as a mechanism to ensure that the maximum budget available for the Scheme under the RDP was not exceeded and that the Scheme did not serve to incentivise production.
I have listened to farmers' requests to update the historical reference period from the original 2014/2015 reference year and I am happy to confirm that the reference period will be updated. This is an important step in supporting progressive and expanding sheep farmers, while maintain prudent financial management and not incentivising production.
3398. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that all participants in the sheep welfare scheme are provided with a later reference year that reflects the full up to date level of activity on their farm. [40171/21]
View answerThe Sheep Welfare Scheme was launched in December 2016 and provides a valuable support to farmers for undertaking actions which make a positive contribution to flock welfare. The scheme was initially set-up as a four year scheme, which was renewable annually. The initial four year period expired on the 31st of January 2021. An allocation of an additional €17m in funding was provided in Budget 2021 to extend the scheme for a fifth year as we enter the transitionary period ahead of the introduction of the new Common Agricultural Policy.
An amendment to the RDP was required to give affect to the extension of the Sheep Welfare Scheme for a fifth year. A change to the reference period was also provided for in this amendment. Updating the reference year from the original 2014/2015 reference year is an important step in supporting progressive and expanding sheep farmers. I have listened to farmers in this regard and I am happy to confirm that the reference period will be updated.
3399. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to revive the wool market for Irish sheep farmers. [40172/21]
View answerOne of the actions under the Programme for Government is to undertake a review of the potential demand in domestic and international markets for wool based products such as insulation and fertilisers. Following the allocation of €100,000 in Budget 2021 for this review, I initiated a public consultation process in early March 2021 to determine the terms of reference for such a review.
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 proposed terms of reference were as follows:
- 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.
The closing date for submissions was 2nd April 2021 and over 40 submissions were received. A wide range of proposals on the potential market for wool products were received. As there were no material changes proposed in relation to the terms of reference for the review, they remain as detailed above.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the Request for Tenders (RFT) to carry out this major study was published on 8th July 2021. The closing date for receipt of submissions is 9th August 2021. The successful service provider will be contracted to carry out a feasibility study in accordance with the Terms of Reference detailed above and will be also required to examine and evaluate the proposals received under the public consultation process and produce a report on their findings.
The time frame for the completion of the review including the tendering process, consultation with the stakeholder group which I am currently establishing and publication of the final report is end of November 2021. The recommendations from this review will help focus the development of a robust policy roadmap for the Irish wool industry.
3400. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will immediately commence section 13 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997. [40175/21]
View answerMy Department considers all applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, the Foreshore Act 1933 and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisors, as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation.
The average timeframe for processing an aquaculture licence varies depending on a number of factors, including location, species, scale and intensity of production, statutory status of proposed sites, visual impact, etc. Other factors include consideration of any submissions or observations received during the public consultation period.
Section 13 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997 sets down timeframes within which the Minister shall endeavour to determine an application for an aquaculture licence. However, in the absence of a commencement order, there is no statutory timeframe in force for the determination of applications for aquaculture licences under the Act. The commencement of Section 13 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997 is, however, a matter which is kept under ongoing review and is informed inter alia, by the need to comply fully with both national and EU requirements in relation to environmental legislation.
3401. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the applications of organisations (details supplied) to become producer organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40176/21]
View answerMy Department is the competent authority under the EU Common Market Organisation Regulation (1379/2013) for recognition of fisheries and aquaculture producer groups as EU Producer Organisations.
In 2020, my Department received two applications from inshore fisheries producer groups, one of which was from the National Inshore Fishermen's Association CLG. On 15 July 2020, my Department wrote to the NIFA requesting additional information to assist in consideration of their application. In the interim, my officials have discussed the status of the application and the outstanding information required with the NIFA on a number of occasions. While my officials remain available to provide any additional guidance needed, the additional information required to progress consideration of the application has not yet been submitted by the applicant.
