Written Answers Nos. 784-794
785. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the alternative products that are available in response to the banning of plastic used to cover maize; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43460/21]
View answerThe provisions of Council Directive 2019/904, known as the Single Use Plastic Directive, were signed into Irish law by the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Communications in SI 326 of 2021 on 2nd July 2021. The provisions of these Regulations prohibit the marketing of single use plastics from the 3rd July 2021. This includes films of the type used to sow covered maize.
Helpfully, maize growers may use existing stocks of maize plastic present on their farms that were purchased prior to the commencement of this legislation.
I understand that the sector continues in its efforts to develop alternative products for use in the sowing of maize that will be compliant with these new Regulations.
I and officials in my Department, will continue to engage with the sector along with our counterparts in the Department of the Environment, Climate Change and Communications.
In parallel, in terms of support for the sector, my Department re-commenced Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) trials for uncovered maize, in 2020 as a means to identify varieties better suited to Irish growing conditions and which do not require plastic covering. This work will build on the 2015 Uncovered Recommended List in which a high performing variety was identified and which is available on the Irish market for growers.
786. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his position on new EPA regulations that will prevent the establishment of new and or expansion of existing poultry facilities in County Monaghan; if he has engaged with the EPA and local authorities to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43463/21]
View answer793. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered the impact of new EPA guidelines which prevent the licensing or expansion of any poultry facilities within parts of counties Cavan and Monaghan; if per EPA statements his Department will be providing supports to the sector to abate emissions and facilitate further production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43514/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 786 and 793 together.
I have not engaged with local authorities and the EPA on the issue raised by the Deputy, and I believe it is important that we respect the independence and scientific expertise of the EPA. Saying that, I am aware of the challenges for farmers in the area having met with a group in July.
As the Deputy is aware the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent public body established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. The issuing of industrial emissions licences for intensive agricultural establishments falls under the EPA’s remit. Accordingly, the legislation for licensing of intensive pig and poultry facilities is under the remit of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. Poultry premises required to apply for said licence are defined as installations where the capacity exceeds 40,000 places with poultry construed in accordance with Regulation 2(2) of the European Communities (Poultry and Hatching Eggs) Regulations 2010 (S.I. No. 564 of 2010).
All other registrations which do not exceed the aforementioned capacity can be made to my Department.
Compliance with environmental regulations is a prerequisite for Irish farmers and food producers, not only to meet legislative requirements, but also to ensure that our quality produce can command a premium in both domestic and export markets.
Under TAMS II, the Department provides funding for the Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme (PPIS) which among other eligible upgrades provides 40% grant funding for a number of eligible investments that can be taken up by poultry farmers and producers, these include energy efficiency measures such as water meters, boilers and solar panels, as well as upgrades to poultry housing such as roof and wall insulation, LED lighting and disease reduction facilities for existing poultry houses. In recognition of the role TAMs can play, earlier this year I announced an increase in the investment ceiling for these sectors from €80,000 to €200,000.
787. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has any discretion with regard to the payment of farmers under the basic payment scheme in County Kerry in which penalties have been imposed as a result of fires which those farmers have not been deemed responsible for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43467/21]
View answerIn order to qualify for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), farmers must have an eligible hectare of land in respect of each entitlement held. Where land has been burned between the period of 1st March and 31st August of any given year it is not eligible for payment under the BPS. .
Where such land is claimed under a BPS application it is considered an overclaim and as such a penalty/reduction may apply. In each case where a penalty/reduction applies the applicant has a right of appeal. The applicant is advised of this right and how to avail of the appeals process in the notification of the penalty/reduction.
788. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to include to continue the traditional farmhouse grant as part of a scheme in the new CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43504/21]
View answerFunding options for continuing the Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme in the future are currently being explored. This is an excellent scheme that has delivered for our traditional built heritage in the countryside. Given the size of the scheme there may be a case for continuing it outside the CAP framework and we are currently exploring various options.
789. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made towards facilitating the resumption of Irish beef exports to China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43505/21]
View answerThe resumption of Irish beef exports to China remains a high priority objective for me, the Department and the Government as a whole. Significant efforts to reopen the market have been made through official, technical, diplomatic and political channels and there is ongoing contact with the Chinese authorities on the matter.
In May 2020, the Department identified and confirmed an isolated case of atypical BSE. Atypical BSE poses no public health risk; it is believed that cases can occur spontaneously and sporadically in all cattle populations. In fact, the discovery of this rare case exemplifies the strength of Ireland’s BSE controls and surveillance system.
Following confirmation of the atypical BSE case, Ireland immediately suspended shipments to China in accordance with the terms of the bilateral protocol governing the beef trade and pending a risk assessment by the General Administration of Customs for China (GACC).
Since then, the Department, in collaboration with the Embassy of Ireland in Beijing, has engaged intensively with relevant Chinese officials to seek the resumption of trade. This interaction included the submission by the Department of a comprehensive epidemiological report in June 2020, a further detailed update on our official BSE controls in November 2020 and information on Ireland's revised status as 'negligible risk' for BSE awarded by the OIE (the World Animal Health Organisation) in May 2021.
The matter has been raised at the highest political levels including by myself with my counterpart the GACC Minister, and by An Taoiseach with the Chinese Premier in January. Along with Minister of State Heydon, I strongly urged the lifting of the suspension during our meetings with China's Ambassador to Ireland in 2020 and 2021. Minister Coveney also raised this issue with his Chinese counterpart during an in-person meeting in May 2021.
The Department, in collaboration with the Embassy of Ireland in Beijing, will continue to utilise every available option for dialogue with the Chinese authorities, to press the case for a restoration of beef access as a matter of urgency. However, it must be recognised that the timing of the decision to resume trade remains a matter for the Chinese customs authorities.
790. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered extending the GLAS scheme for all participants for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43506/21]
View answerThe 10th amendment to the Rural Development Programme, which was recently approved by the EU Commission, provides for the possibility for the extension of the GLAS scheme in 2022. As with all relevant Rural Development schemes, consideration of an extension will be subject to the outcome of the annual budget process in the autumn.
791. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers by county who have received a penalty on their BSP as a result of burning or flooding they were not themselves responsible for; if the penalty related to burning or flooding; the average and total amount per county and year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43507/21]
View answerWhere land has been burned between the period of 1st March and 31st August of any given year it is not eligible for payment under the BPS.
Where such land is claimed under a BPS application it is considered an overclaim and as such a penalty/reduction may apply. Please see below 2020 BPS applicants who received a financial penalty/reduction on their 2020 BPS payment as a result of burning during the closed season in 2020.
|
Countys |
No of Herds |
Overclaim Reduction |
Overclaim Penalty |
Total reduction/Penalty |
Average |
|
|
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
Carlow |
34 |
15,656 |
3,923 |
19,580 |
576 |
|
Cavan |
6 |
2,124 |
1,440 |
3,564 |
594 |
|
Clare |
3 |
1,912 |
392 |
2,304 |
768 |
|
Cork |
14 |
13,137 |
8,076 |
21,212 |
1,515 |
|
Galway |
1 |
2,493 |
0 |
2,493 |
2,493 |
|
Kerry |
34 |
18,575 |
7,741 |
26,316 |
774 |
|
Letrim |
3 |
11,086 |
10,430 |
21,516 |
7,172 |
|
Louth |
13 |
15,212 |
21,226 |
36,438 |
2,803 |
|
Mayo |
30 |
2,952 |
1,506 |
4,458 |
149 |
|
Sligo |
3 |
637 |
155 |
793 |
264 |
|
Wexford |
22 |
6,748 |
5,146 |
11,894 |
541 |
|
Wicklow |
13 |
12,766 |
6,537 |
19,304 |
1,485 |
|
Total: |
176 |
103,299 |
66,572 |
169,871 |
965 |
Please note this table is subject to change based on the outcome of appeals and further processing of cases.
The Department does not maintain statistics on overclaims due to flooding.
792. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to allow all veterinary medicines to be dispensed by farm supply companies; if he will elaborate on his approach to ensuring that this happens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43509/21]
View answerAll current suppliers of veterinary medicines will continue to be legally permitted to supply these medicines post-January 2022.
The Department is actively working with all stakeholders to sustain a competitive market for the supply of these products. The ambition is to ensure Irish farmers are empowered to purchase medicines from their supplier of choice. Initiatives such as the development of a National Veterinary Prescribing System (NVPS) will help deliver on this ambition. The NVPS will result in a prescription being made available to a farmer by choice of email, text or in paper. Farmers can then engage with Licensed Merchants, veterinary pharmacists or their veterinary practitioner in getting their prescription dispensed.
794. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of applications received from a local authority (details supplied) for piers and harbour funding in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43517/21]
View answerThe Department provides funding to assist the coastal Local Authorities, including Mayo County Council, in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, subject to available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities. In May I was pleased to announce a 35% increase in the funding being made available to local authorities from the 2021 Programme, with over €600,000 being allocated for projects put forward by Mayo County Council.
Between the years 2018-2020 inclusive, Mayo County Council has received funding of €1.02m under this programme, Mayo County Council has secured funding under this year’s programme, to undertake eight projects in total (of which there are six Harbour Development and two are Marine Leisure & Tourism).
All applications made for funding by Local Authorities under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programmes are given due consideration, taking into account the terms and conditions of the scheme, the priority attached to the project by the Local Authorities, available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.
Please see attached tables which detail the projects that received funding under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programmes for the years 2018-2020 (inclusive) and the projects for which I allocated funding under this year's programme. Further information on this year's Programme is available online at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/db402-minister-mcconalogue-announces-383-million-in-funding-for-capital-projects-at-irelands-six-fishery-harbour-centres-including-an-enhanced-scheme-for-79-local-authority-harbours-the-2021-programme-sees-a-35-increase-in-funding-for-local-authority-harbours/
Mayo County Council has responsibility for the maintenance and development of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways in the first instance and its parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage thereafter.
Projects which received Funding under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programmes in the years 2018-2020 (inclusive)
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
Total |
|
|
Project |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
Ballina Harbour |
22,500 |
112,500 |
135,000 |
|
|
Blacksod |
106,033 |
106,033 |
||
|
Killala Harbour |
90,000 |
150,000 |
240,000 |
|
|
Rathlackan Pier |
60,944 |
60,944 |
||
|
Rathlackan Pier - Underpinning of pier end |
105,000 |
105,000 |
||
|
Roonagh |
149,865 |
149,865 |
||
|
Westport - New pontoon |
112,500 |
112,500 |
||
|
Westport - New Slipway |
112,493 |
112,493 |
||
|
TOTAL |
173,444 |
329,993 |
518,398 |
1,021,834.31 |
Projects allocated funding under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme 2021 .
|
Project |
Funding Allocated 2021 € |
|
Porturlin Harbour: Improvement works on the Pier/sea wall |
150,000 |
|
Purteen Harbour Achill: Remediation works on slipway and safety improvement works. |
33,750 |
|
Roigh: Remedial works on pier. |
52,500 |
|
Rinroe Pier, Kilgalligan: Safety improvement works, replacement of ladders and railings |
45,000 |
|
Killerduff Pier: Remove rocks and debris from harbour area. Repairs to slipway and breakwater wall. |
45,000 |
|
Belderrig Pier: Safety improvement works, including replacement of the existing winch system, ladders and railings. |
112,500 |
|
Kilcummin Harbour: Repairs to old breakwater wall, and safety works to slipway and pier. |
75,000 |
|
Mulranny: Remedial works to pier / sea wall. |
112,500 |
|
Total |
626,250 |
