Written Answers Nos. 61-79
61. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if women joining a formal farm partnership with a minimum level 6 qualification in agriculture that meet the eligible age criteria can obtain a 60% TAMS grant within the partnership similar to the current partnership model in which a young, trained farmer joins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60857/21]
View answer63. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if women with at least a level 6 in agriculture or who have been head of a farm holding for at least three years will qualify for the TAMS 60% grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60856/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 63 together.
The new CAP places a particular focus on promoting the participation of women in the social economic development of rural areas, with special attention to farming. Gender equality is also a key objective of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and a priority for me, as Minister.
I am pleased therefore to be proposing the highest level of direct supports for women farmers in any CAP programme in Ireland. In addition to the TAMs proposal, these include women-only Knowledge Transfer (KT) Groups; and a call under the European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) initiative for proposals to examine women’s participation in agriculture.
On the new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), my Department has been actively engaging with stakeholders throughout the process of developing the new plan. The SWOT analysis and Needs assessment helped to shape the CSP draft interventions that were then followed by a five-week public consultation in September 2021 with over 1,000 responses received.
The proposed On-Farm Capital investment Scheme is in the process of development and is subject to the formal approval of the European Commission. As outlined in the draft CSP, it provides for a general grant rate of 40% for eligible investments. It is also proposed in the CSP that eligible female farmers, who meet the eligibility criteria may qualify for grant aid at a rate of 60%. It is currently being proposed that eligible female farmers are those:
- Aged between 18 years of age and 55 at any time during the calendar year in which she submits an application for support;
- Meet the conditions for being head and having control of the holding;
- Meets the requirements for the appropriate training and/or skills required at the time of applications.
Applicants who do not meet the criteria above will still remain eligible to submit an application under the On-Farm Capital investment scheme at the standard rate of 40%. No decision has been made on the details of how registered farm partnerships will operate under the new On-Farm Capital Investment scheme.
Measures in the CSP are complemented by the new stakeholder strategy for the Irish agri-food sector, Food Vision 2030, which recognises the important contribution of women to the sector's long-term sustainability and includes a number of actions to promote and improve gender balance at all levels. It also proposes holding a national dialogue on women in agriculture. I have asked my officials to prioritise this dialogue for next year.
More can be done on this important issue and I am committed to delivering greater equality in the Irish agri-food sector.
62. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he will adopt to address the crisis in the forestry sector in 2022. [60473/21]
View answerTackling the backlog in forestry licenses remains a key priority for my Department and significant progress has been made in the past year, particularly on felling and road licences.
The investment in resources and continual improvement has had a positive impact, with an increase in licence output in recent months and with 3,718 licences issued to date this year. I am confident that we will meet our target of 4,000 licences by year end. For the last 14 weeks, we have issued an average of 115 licences each week and I expect this progress to continue.
The delays that have arisen were caused by changes to the licensing system arising from Court decisions, which means that a significant number of cases now need ecological input to comply with environmental requirements. To find solutions towards resolving these issues, as well as focusing on woodland creation, Project Woodland was initiated early in 2021.
We are making progress under Project Woodland with the second interim report published at the end of October. In terms of licensing, an important initiative is the in-depth review of the forestry licensing system being carried out by external consultants with legal and environmental expertise. It will review the existing statutory framework for the licensing of forestry activities in relation to environmental and public participation obligations in order that practical advice can be provided to the Department on how to work more efficiently within the existing legal framework. That report is expected at end February next. Alongside Project Woodland, we continue to look at our processes.
We will build on this momentum in 2022 and will implement any and all practical process improvements which result from the review and analysis in train under Project Woodland. I remain fully committed to delivering a licensing system which will meets the needs of the sector and of society as a whole.
64. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he envisages new mechanisms to reward farmers for new measures to sequester carbon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60639/21]
View answerUnder the EU Commission’s proposals for a new Common Agricultural Policy, there are options to provide support for environmental action on farms, including measures which seek to protect existing carbon pools while also increasing on-farm sequestration rates mainly through our soils and woody biomass. These options are currently being developed under the CAP Strategic Plan in consultation with all relevant stakeholders including farmers and land managers.
One route currently being examined under the CAP Strategic Plan is through the establishment of an eco-schemes incentive that would make up a proportion of Pillar I direct payments conditional on additional environmental action. Additional environmental action will also be encouraged through voluntary participation in results-based schemes established in Pillar II Rural Development Programme Schemes.
The potential to reward farmers for their carbon sequestration activities is also recognised under the recently updated All-of-Government Climate Action Plan 2021 which commits government to, “explore the development of a carbon farming model”. Officials within my Department are currently exploring how an enabling framework for carbon farming can be developed and although this work is at an early stage the potential rewards for farmers, and society in general, are clear.
To help establish the required baseline data required for a carbon sequestration reward model, I have provided funding through my Department, for initiatives such as the establishment of the National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory, the Pilot Soil Sampling Programme and the Farm Environmental Scheme along with a number of European Innovation Partnership (EIP) research projects based on peatsoils, to provide the required data for the development of future policy options in this area.
My Department already supports sequestration through afforestation including agroforestry, in a variety of configurations. An example of a positive development to date in this area is my Department’s ‘Woodland Environmental Fund’ where private businesses can part-fund the establishment of native woodlands on farms.
National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory
The “National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory” will comprise up to 10 “Flux Towers” across a range of soil types at a cost of ~€2M. These sites will be established on a range of soils adding value to existing Teagasc projects including; the industry co-funded SignPost farms and the Agricultural Catchments Programme. The resulting “National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory” will place Ireland at the forefront of EU carbon sequestration research.
The purchasing of “Flux Towers” will allow the establishment of the “National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory” which will enable Ireland to:
- Better quantify soil carbon emissions and sinks from agricultural land,
- Enable mitigation measures to increase carbon sequestration to be included in the national inventory,
- Participate in the EU ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System) network
- Enable Ireland to benefit from the 2018 EU Effort Sharing Regulation.
Pilot Soil Sampling Programme
- 10 million pilot Programme co-funded by the EU and national exchequer
- Opened for applications on the morning of the 17th of September 2021.
- No monetary payment to participants but they will benefit from better management decision making as a result of soil analysis report provided.
- Aims to establish a comprehensive national baseline on the Soil Organic Matter, nutrient and soil pathogen (E-coli) status of our soils across all farming systems and geographic areas.
- Aims to aid understanding of the linkages between animal health and soil health with a focus on soil pathogen assessment which will provide farmers with information to adapt strategies to minimise anti-microbial resistance (AMR).
Farm Environmental Study
- The Farm Environment Survey is targeted at bridging the knowledge gap of what habitats are present at farm level in Ireland. This knowledge transfer will help farmers, with support from their Advisors, to inform their management practices with Biodiversity and the environment in mind, along with yielding higher quality outputs.
- The Pilot Stage of FES will focus on the development of methodology and the up-skilling of farmers and advisors in the roll out of farm level habitat surveys on approximately 8000 farms.
- The Pilot FES programme will provide the farmer with an inventory of habitats, biodiversity and environmental information about his/her own farm
Woodland Environmental Fund
- The objective of the Woodland Environmental Fund (WEF) is to facilitate the planting of more native woodlands within Ireland by providing an access point for businesses to part fund the establishment of these forests.
- Businesses are invited to partner with Government and private landowners in creating these diverse woodland habitats.
- WEF funding is a once off single payment of €1,000/hectare, paid by the business to the landowner. The payment is made once the forest is established and has been approved by the Department
Agroforestry
- The Agroforestry option of the Afforestation Scheme provides financial support to grow trees on land being used for farming. The system gives land-owners the flexibility to graze and even cut silage and hay while growing trees for timber in the same field.
- Agroforestry can involve pasture, grazing, silage and hay. Other systems may be considered on a site-to-site basis as long as the tree stocking rate is between 400-1000 trees per hectare, it is at least 0.5 of a hectare and at least 20 meters wide.
- Benefits of agro-forestry include an enhancement to landscapes, improves biodiversity and landscape, prevents nutrient runoff and reduces sedimentation of nearby water courses, provides renewable energy, reducing the consumption of fossil fuels while also improving land drainage.
65. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to develop more broadleaf forestry in Ireland. [60768/21]
View answerThe current Forestry Programme 2014-2020 (extended to end 2022) provides significant supports for afforestation and includes 12 different planting categories to promote a good species mix and covers 100% of the cost of establishing a forest.
Six of these 12 planting categories focus on the establishment of broadleaves. The main Afforestation Scheme aims at supporting biodiversity by facilitating a policy to increase species diversity within the national forest estate. It is a requirement that all new afforestation must include at least 15% broadleaves. In response to these incentives, over 30,000ha of new forests have been created since the start of the Programme in 2015 with an average of 27% broadleaves planted during the programming period. The incentives for planting broadleaves were increased upwards in 2018 during a mid-term review of the Forestry programme.
In addition we have a variety of additional support schemes in place that promote the planting of broadleaves, such as the Woodland Creation on Public Lands Scheme, the Woodland Environmental Fund, and the Neighbourwood Scheme.
Coillte, under its not-for-profit branch which aims to deliver on biodiversity through specific projects, is also actively promoting the planting of native species. For example, the recently launched ‘Nature Partners' initiative, aims to attract impact investors to help create new native woodlands across the country.
Looking to the future, as the Deputy may be aware, Project Woodland was launched in February this year and one of its key objectives is the creation of a shared national vision for forests in Ireland and the development of a new Forest Strategy. This includes an extensive and inclusive public consultation, which has recently commenced and which will consider issues such as diversity within the forest estate. The Strategy will in turn underpin the next Forestry Programme for the period 2023 to 2027. I would like to invite everybody with an interest in forestry in Ireland to actively contribute to this consultation process.
66. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to support producers of hemp in the State. [60429/21]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that Cannabis, which includes hemp is listed in Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 (S.I. No 173 of 2017), as amended, which means it is subject to the strictest level of control. It is an offence in Ireland to cultivate, import, export, produce, supply and possess cannabis except in accordance with a license issued by the Minister for Health.
Hemp is included as an eligible crop under the Basic Payment Scheme implemented by my Department. Any producer who grows hemp in Ireland who has a licence issued by the Minister for Health to grow hemp is entitled to apply to the Basic Payment Scheme.
My Department is currently conducting a consultation, in line with a commitment given in the current Programme for Government, to “fully explore the potential for growing fibre crops such as hemp, considering whether these crops have a viable market”. The consultation is being conducted by my officials with input from relevant stakeholders to establish if there is a financial viability of crops, including hemp as a fibre source. When the process has concluded, and the findings evaluated I will be able to make a determination regarding the future viability of growing hemp for fibre in Ireland.
67. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he will adopt to address the crisis in the forestry sector in 2022. [60880/21]
View answerTackling the backlog in forestry licenses remains a key priority for My Department and I am pleased to report significant progress has been made in the past year, particularly on felling and road licences.
The investment in resources and continual improvement has had a positive impact with a significant increase in licence output in recent months. This has brought our output to 3,718 licences issued to date this year. I am confident that we will meet our target of 4,000 licences by year end which will be a 60% increase on last year.
Our road licensing output for this year will be double the target set for us in the Climate Action Plan. The volume of timber licensed will be 8 million m3 this year. This is 60% higher than last year and the highest volume ever licensed in a single year.
We are making progress under Project Woodland, with the second interim report published at the end of October. In terms of licensing, an important initiative is the in-depth review of the forestry licensing system being carried out by a consultant with legal and environmental expertise. It will review the existing statutory framework for the licensing of forestry activities in relation to environmental and public participation obligations in order that practical advice can be provided to the Department on how to work more efficiently within the existing legal framework. That report is expected at end February next.
In terms of afforestation, outputs are not where I’d like them to be but there are signs of improvement. Officials are prioritising the assessment of afforestation licences on hand, using the same system as was applied to felling licences and 10 ecologists are now dedicated to afforestation, with more to be recruited.
We will build on this years momentum in 2022 and will implement any and all practical process improvements which result from the review and analysis in train under Project Woodland. I remain fully committed to delivering a licensing system which will meets the needs of the sector and of society as a whole.
68. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the purpose of Bord Bia assurance under the new suckler scheme for farmers that do not produce animals for slaughter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60287/21]
View answerMembership of the Bord Bia Sustainable Beef Quality Assurance Scheme is an eligibility condition of the new Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme as part of Ireland's draft CAP strategic plan. The full details of the draft CAP strategic plan are available on the Department's website.
The Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme is an environmental scheme and a core metric underpinning it is the measurement and tracking of the carbon footprint for each participant farm. The scheme will see participants receive €150/cow on the first 10 cows compared with €90/cow on the first 10 cows under the outgoing BDGP.
The sustainability survey in the SBLAS audit provides a carbon footprint using an established model. It is imperative that the scheme includes strong and measurable environmental actions which will further drive the environmental efficiency of suckler beef farming, as well as contributing to the sector's efficiency and competitiveness and supporting farm incomes.
The Deputy will be aware that the costs associated with SBLAS audits are funded directly by my Department rather than by the participating beef and sheep farmers.
69. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the recent activity of his Department and Bord Bia to develop new markets for Irish agri-food produce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60497/21]
View answerDeveloping market opportunities at home and abroad is one of the goals of Food Vision 2030, the overarching strategy for the development of the agri-food sector which was developed in collaboration with stakeholders and published in August.
Value-added opportunities will be maintained and created by the retention and the growth of existing market shares, development of new international markets and market segments, and product innovation. My Department and Bord Bia play an ongoing role in identifying and developing markets and engaging with key trading partners to enhance the global market share of Irish agri-food produce. Trade missions, facilitated by my Department, Bord Bia, and the Embassy network, are essential in developing market opportunities in international markets.
Bord Bia has shown great agility since the start of the pandemic in translating the key components of trade missions into a virtual format. Minister of State Martin Heydon, who has specific responsibility for new market development, and I have participated in a range of virtual events and meetings with key trade customers.
Most recently, we have participated in virtual events organised by Bord Bia promoting Irish dairy and meat exports to West Africa, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, China and Japan. Those markets were chosen because of their strategic importance for Irish agri-food exports and I have been hugely impressed by the level of engagement and interest from customers in our quality food and drink offering.
Opening and enhancing access to international markets is typically a lengthy process with negotiations often taking several years before bilateral agreements are concluded and trade can commence. Nonetheless we have made significant progress in diversification of markets. For example, I was pleased last week with the announcement that the US ban on sheep meat exports from the EU has been lifted. My officials will now engage with US authorities on the next steps to full access and to ensure that Irish sheepmeat exports to this valuable market will be able to commence as soon as possible.
70. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take regarding CAP following his tour of marts and his engagement with farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60447/21]
View answerI have listened carefully to the views of farmers on the new CAP Strategic Plan, through consultation with farm organisations both bilaterally and through the national CAP Stakeholder Consultative Committee, as well as on my recent nationwide tour of 27 marts in 25 counties. It is fair to say that there is quite a wide variety of views on the various elements of the new CAP that will pertain over the period from 2023 to 2027.
As the Deputy will be aware, in early November I launched a public consultation on the draft Environmental Report on the draft CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. The latest iteration of the Plan includes changes to, for example, the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme and the Sheep Improvement Scheme, and also includes a new Straw Incorporation Measure for tillage farmers and a Collaborative Farming Grant to encourage generational renewal. I also recently announced amendments to the previously published Eco-scheme options, providing for a number of additional agricultural practices that can be taken up by farmers This will raise the number of such practices available under the scheme from five to 10.
The public consultation on the draft Plan and the associated environmental assessments concluded on the 8th of December. My Department is now considering these submissions. I will continue to take the views of stakeholders on board before submitting the draft Plan to Government for approval. The finalised Plan must be submitted to the Commission before the deadline of 1 January 2022.
71. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the work of his Department individually or in conjunction with other Departments in addressing the mental health of farmers and persons working in the agri-food sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60635/21]
View answerThank you Deputy for addressing this very important topic. My Department is co-funding, with the HSE and the Department of Health, a farmers physical and mental health awareness programme: Engage Unit 8 ‘On Feirm Ground’. The programme developed a Train the Trainer programme that is currently being delivered nationally to those employed as farmer advisors. It is providing training for agricultural advisors to engage with and signpost farmers to supports in relation to health and wellbeing. To date over 100 agricultural advisors have been trained.
Additionally, of the eight farm safety European Innovation Partnerships (EIP’s) projects there were approved in July of this year, to the value of €1.8m, four are focused around mental health of people in the farming community. These projects are now in the implementation phase and I am looking forward to seeing positive impacts from all of the projects around farm safety.
72. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to honour Programme for Government commitments to ensure greater integration and compatibility of the afforestation scheme into the next CAP. [60839/21]
View answerI am fully committed to better integration between the new National Forestry Programme and the next CAP to ensure the measures in both will complement each other.
The new Forestry Programme will be 100% exchequer funded and will aim to support significant levels of afforestation in line with our target to plant 8,000 hectares of trees per year under the Climate Action Plan 2021, and this will be complemented by tree planting measures under the CAP Strategic Plan.
The planting of trees has the potential to play a significant part in our environmental priorities especially water quality, biodiversity and climate. As outlined in the draft CAP Strategic Plan interventions which have been published for public consultation, the Pillar II Agri-Environment Climate Measure incudes tree planting actions as riparian buffers for water quality, in belts for ammonia capture near the farmyard or in rows, groups or as parkland. Furthermore choosing a tree planting action would, as proposed, give priority access to the agri-environment climate scheme. In addition it is foreseen that agricultural advisors will be responsible for preparing a farm plan which will include a woodland scorecard under certain circumstances.
Actions under the agri-environment climate measure are not at whole farm level, which means actions under the Scheme could co-exist with forestry on the farm. In addition, forestry will continue to attract both grants and premiums under the Forestry Programme in addition to direct payments in accordance with Article 4 of the CAP Strategic Plan regulation.
As the Deputy may be aware we are currently developing a new forest strategy under Project Woodland and this will inform the design of the next Forestry Programme. It is my intention that farmers will be at the heart of the next programme and we will be consulting widely to ensure that the incentives we put in place will encourage farmers to see forestry as complementary to a sustainable farming enterprise.
73. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of bovine animals found to have failed the TB eradication test in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021 in respect of both the dairy herd and the beef herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60631/21]
View answerThe number of Dairy herd reactor animals is 8,837 for the year 2019, 12,440 for the year 2020 and 11,502 up to 6th December for the year 2021.
The number of Suckler herd reactor animals is 5,894 for the year 2019, 7,275 for the year 2020 and 5,816 up to 6th December for the year 2021.
The number of Beef herd reactor animals is 1,989 for the year 2019, 2,332 for the year 2020 and 1,829 up to 6th December for the year 2021.
The number of Other herd reactor animals is 347 for the year 2019, 515 for the year 2020 and 471 up to 6th December for the year 2021.
The overall total in respect of reactor numbers is 17,067 for the year 2019, 22,562 for the year 2020 and 19,618 up to 6th December for the year 2021.
Herd incidence has risen every year between 2016 and 2020. This disease causes untold hardship for farmers and farming families, and although the challenge is serious my Department, working together with stakeholders and engaging with farmers are committed to eradicating this disease.
Earlier this year, I launched a new Bovine TB Eradication Strategy 2021-2030. The implementation of this strategy is overseen by the TB Stakeholder Forum with support from three new working groups on science, implementation and finance to ensure that all aspects of the Strategy are addressed.
As part of my on-going commitment to eradicating this disease, I have sanctioned an additional €1m in funding for the wildlife programme which is an integral element of the overall programme. There are positive indications of progress with the TB situation for 2021 likely to represent an improvement compared to 2020 and, working together, we can build on that momentum.
74. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the involvement his Department has in European Union LIFE Projects; if there are plans for future projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60680/21]
View answerIreland’s success in achieving EU LIFE funding for several important species and habitat conservation projects is a positive story for biodiversity and for inter Department engagement which is needed to tackle the biodiversity crisis.
My Department is a co-contributor to several recent LIFE projects – involved both through financial support and also having expert staff directly involved in this important conservation work.
Two large-scale Agri-environment projects that commenced this year are the Wild Atlantic Nature (WAN) LIFE IP and Corncrake LIFE, of which the Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine (DAFM) are a key beneficiary in partnership with National Parks and Wildlife (NPWS).
WAN is co-ordinated by the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and aims to support appropriate and sensitive habitat management in blanket bog areas from Galway to Donegal through a results-based payments scheme along with other community supports and innovations. DAFM were involved in the design of the results-based measure and also provide funding to the project.
Corncrake LIFE, also co-ordinated by DHLGH, is working with farmers and landowners to improve the habitat conditions and range of Corncrake areas in the west and north-west of the country. DAFM were involved in the design of the results-based measure and provide funding to the project.
A further two new LIFE Agri-environment projects that have recently been approved are Lough Carra LIFE and Machair LIFE, of which DAFM are a key beneficiary.
Machair Life is co-ordinated by DHLGH and along with providing funding DAFM will be designing a results-based measure for this grassland habitat.
Lough Carra Life is co-ordinated by Mayo Co. Co. and as well as providing funding DAFM will again be involved in developing a Result-based measures for farmers in the catchment.
Two other projects we are involved in are the Peatland and People Life project, which examines best practice in peatland restoration and rehabilitation and finally the Waters for Life project which supports measures to protect and enhance high ecological status water bodies.
It is our intention to continue to explore involvement with future Life projects that contribute to the goals and policies of this Department in areas like biodiversity, climate, and water quality in collaboration with other gov departments.
75. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to further assist Irish agri-food producers in developing markets and securing new business opportunities in 2022 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60750/21]
View answerMy Department continues to support the ambition of the Irish agri-food sector to grow the value of exports to international markets. The promotion of Ireland's high-quality, safe, nutritious and sustainably produced food is a core objective of my Department and its agencies.
The Government's strategy to deliver this export growth has seen Bord Bia receive significant extra funding from my Department over the last number of budgets. This additional funding is supporting Bord Bia's extensive marketing and promotional activities in priority markets and identifying new market opportunities for Irish food exporters. It is also used to provide support to individual companies that are establishing and expanding their presence in international markets.
My Department also continues to work on the opportunities provided by recent EU Free Trade Agreements with third countries, and to press at Government-to-Government level for the removal of technical market access barriers across a range of third country markets.
Another component of our market development strategy is Ministerial Trade Missions. Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, Minister Heydon and myself have led a number of virtual trade missions and key customer engagements in 2021. These were focused on Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, China, Singapore and West Africa, as well as on our traditional markets in the EU, UK and US.
In 2022, provided the public health situation allows, we have an extensive schedule of in-person trade missions planned in a number of the key target growth markets for Irish food exports. I can assure the Deputy that Minister Heydon and I, and my Department, are fully focused on enhancing our existing markets and developing new markets for Irish food and food producers.
76. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way that his Department is helping agri-food businesses adapt to the impact of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52656/21]
View answerBrexit has inevitably presented significant challenges for the agri-food sector, although the Trade and Co-operation Agreement reached at the end of 2020 mitigated against some of the potentially worst impacts as it provided for tariff-free trade between the EU and UK to continue. However, as the UK is now outside the EU Single Market and Customs Union, there are additional requirements for Irish businesses trading with the UK.
My Department has, and continues to, work intensively with the sector to ensure that it is ready for these changes.
The preparatory work has included extensive investment in the systems and infrastructure needed to support industry in meeting new import and export requirements, which has ensured the minimum possible disruption to Irish supply chains to date.
My Department continues to collaborate with industry to ensure that businesses are ready for the new UK import controls that will arise in 2022.
The Government also continues to provide a range of financial supports to assist industry in adapting to the impacts of Brexit. Most recently, on 15 October, along with Government colleagues, I launched the Brexit Impact Loan Scheme, which makes up to €330 million in lending available to eligible businesses in Ireland, including farmers and the seafood sector.
Earlier this year, a €14 million Capital Investment Scheme was made available to support the food processing industry, and the Government has, of course, continued to increase Bord Bia funding in order to assist the industry in pursuing market diversification opportunities.
These funding measures, and the investment in preparations for the changes to the UK-EU trading environment, clearly demonstrate the Government's ongoing commitment to support the agri-food sector's ambition to continue to grow despite the challenges associated with Brexit.
77. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will remove the proposed age limit for women to receive increased TAMS grant aid. [60474/21]
View answerThe new CAP places a particular focus on promoting the participation of women in the social economic development of rural areas, with special attention to farming. Gender equality is also a key objective of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and a priority for me, as Minister.
I am pleased therefore to be proposing the highest level of direct supports for women farmers in any CAP programme in Ireland. In addition to the TAMs proposal, these include women-only Knowledge Transfer (KT) Groups; and a call under the European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) initiative for proposals to examine women’s participation in agriculture.
On the new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), my Department has been actively engaging with stakeholders throughout the process of developing the new plan. The SWOT analysis and Needs assessment helped to shape the CSP draft interventions that were then followed by a five-week public consultation in September 2021 with over 1,000 responses received.
The proposed On-Farm Capital investment Scheme is in the process of development and is subject to the formal approval of the European Commission. As outlined in the draft CSP, it provides for a general grant rate of 40% for eligible investments. It is also proposed in the CSP that eligible female farmers, who meet the eligibility criteria may qualify for grant aid at a rate of 60%. It is currently being proposed that eligible female farmers are those:
- Aged between 18 years of age and 55 at any time during the calendar year in which she submits an application for support;
- Meet the conditions for being head and having control of the holding;
- Meets the requirements for the appropriate training and/or skills required at the time of applications.
Applicants who do not meet the criteria above will still remain eligible to submit an application under the On-Farm Capital investment scheme at the standard rate of 40%. No decision has been made on the details of how registered farm partnerships will operate under the new On-Farm Capital Investment scheme.
Measures in the CSP are complemented by the new stakeholder strategy for the Irish agri-food sector, Food Vision 2030, which recognises the important contribution of women to the sector's long-term sustainability and includes a number of actions to promote and improve gender balance at all levels. It also proposes holding a national dialogue on women in agriculture. I have asked my officials to prioritise this dialogue for next year.
More can be done on this important issue and I am committed to delivering greater equality in the Irish agri-food sector.
78. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department is taking to assist food producers develop and diversify post-Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60834/21]
View answerThe outcome of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which has seen the UK leave the EU Single Market and Customs Union, inevitably has presented significant challenges for Irish agri-food businesses trading with the UK.
However, the fact that tariff-free trading arrangements have been able to continue on foot of the Agreement has been a real positive, and it is evident that the value of trade with the UK has held up well over the course of 2021.
My Department and its agencies remain focused on maximising the value of Irish agri-food exports by supporting our existing UK trade, as well as supporting further diversification into EU and third country markets.
We continue to invest hugely in measures aimed at achieving these goals. This has seen significant additional funding being provided to Bord Bia over the last number of budgets, and targeted at the latter's extensive marketing and promotional activities on priority markets. It is also targeted at providing support to individual companies that are establishing and expanding their presence in international markets.
My Department also continues to be active in opening up new opportunities in third country markets through our Trade Mission programme and through key direct customer engagements. We have maintained these activities despite the restrictions associated with the pandemic through the use of virtual formats.
This year to date we have had virtual trade missions focused on Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, China, Singapore and West Africa, as well as on our traditional markets in the EU, UK and US. For 2022 we are planning a schedule of extensive in-person Trade Missions to a number of key priority markets.
My Department also continues to work on the opportunities provided by recent EU Free Trade Agreements with third countries, and to press at Government-to-Government level for the removal of technical market access barriers across a range of third country markets.
79. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the initiatives that are being taken to assist agri-food businesses deal with the effect of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60789/21]
View answerAs a result of the UK no longer being in the EU Single Market and Customs Union, the trading environment for Irish businesses, including agri-food businesses, has changed significantly. The Government, and my Department in particular, has been working in close collaboration with the sector to prepare for these changes.
There has been extensive investment in developing the systems and infrastructure needed to support the sector in meeting new import and export requirements which apply to trade with UK since 1 January 2021. This work continues and is now focused on new UK controls which will be applied to Irish exports in 2022.
In addition to these preparations the Government has provided access to a range of financial support measures to assist businesses in adapting to Brexit challenges.
Most recently, on 15 October, along with Government colleagues, I launched the Brexit Impact Loan Scheme, which makes up to €330 million in lending available to eligible businesses in Ireland, including farmers and the seafood sector. Earlier this year, a €14 million Capital Investment Scheme was made available to support the food processing industry, and the Government has, of course, continued to provide additional funding to Bord Bia over successive budgets in recent years to assist the industry in pursuing market diversification opportunities.
These support measures, and the significant investment in preparing for the changes to the UK-EU trading environment, clearly demonstrate the Government's commitment to support the agri-food sector in adapting to the effects of Brexit and to support the sector's ambition to grow despite the challenges associated with Brexit.
