Written Answers Nos. 1119-1141
1120. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the weekly licences issued for the month of February 2022 was in decline on a week by week basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13961/22]
View answerMy Department published the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022, recently, which may be found here gov.ie - Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 (www.gov.ie). The targets for each of the licence types are indicated in the table below, with the weekly average shown. While the weekly overall target of forestry licences to issue is 101, this may fluctuate from week-to-week, but overall we aim to minimise these fluctuations and to issue licences on a consistent basis.
|
Targets |
Total |
Weekly |
|
Felling (Private) |
1,830 |
35 |
|
Felling (Coillte) |
1,530 |
30 |
|
Afforestation |
1,040 |
20 |
|
Roads |
850 |
16 |
|
Total |
5,250 |
101 |
This target of 5,250 licences is a year-on-year increase of 30% including:
- A higher priority will be given to afforestation licences for 2022 with a 107% increase in output up to 1,040.
- There will be a year-on-year increase of 48% of private felling, roads and afforestation files. Coillte felling licences will maintain the levels they achieved in 2021.
- The Department will also refocus on the delivery of most approvals from several schemes including Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS) (Ash Dieback), the Reconstitution of Woodland Scheme (Frost), the Native Woodland Scheme and a proposed small-scale planting scheme for up to one hectare of native species.
As regards output to 11th March, overall we are on target (based on the weekly average) as shown below:
|
Scheme |
Output Licences Week ending 11.03.2022 |
Target Licences Week ending 11.03.2022 |
|
Felling (Private) |
314 |
350 |
|
Felling (Coillte) |
431 |
300 |
|
Afforestation |
132 |
200 |
|
Roads |
140 |
160 |
|
Total (licences) |
1,017 |
1,010 |
Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, my priority this year is delivery of the 2022 licensing plan.
1122. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the expenditure by the Forest Service of his Department is in line with the budget for the month of February 2022 thereby ensuring that there is no underspend for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13982/22]
View answerThe budget allocation for Forestry for 2022 is €100,081,000. This provides for new planting, the serving of existing afforestation contracts, and payments in relation to forestry support schemes and forestry related activities.
Some €5,890,411 of the Forestry budget was spent in February, and this is slightly under the profiled amount of €5,922,000. The remainder of the budget has been apportioned to meet anticipated budgetary needs during the year and will be closely monitored.
1123. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expenditure by the Forest Service of his Department for the month of February 2022 versus February 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13983/22]
View answerThe expenditure under the Forestry Budget for the month of February this year and last is shown in the table below:
Expenditure by the Forest Service, DAFM - the month of February 2022 versus February 2021
|
Month |
Feb-21 |
Feb-22 |
|
Expenditure |
€5,652,063 |
€5,890,410 |
The spending in February this year is in excess of last year and is slightly under the profiled amount of €5,922,000. The remainder of the forestry budget has been apportioned to meet anticipated budgetary needs during the year and will be closely monitored.
1124. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions that his Department has taken to implement the relevant recommendations from the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community report issued in November 2021. [13998/22]
View answerUrban horse welfare programmes supported by my Department are relevant to recommendations under the chapters on both Education and Health in the Programme for Government.
Since 2015, in cooperation with local authorities and other government agencies, my Department has supported urban horse projects, with expenditure amounting to a total of €1,622,000. In keeping with government commitments, my Department has allocated a budget of €350,000 for this purpose in 2022.
There are currently seven active projects. These have a clear focus on education and equine welfare, while some also address mental health issues through equine therapy which is a specified recommendation (Health - Section 18).
The Longford and Leitrim projects will run again this year and have since their inception had a clear focus on both Traveller and the Roma communities in their respective areas. This is the fourth year of the Longford project and it is very much focussed on education on horse care and welfare as much as riding skills for 15 participants from Traveller and ethnic backgrounds with a particular focus on the Roma population in 2021.
The Leitrim Pony-Riding & Animal Welfare Project had a similar structure and emphasis and ran over the summer of 2021, integrating participants from the Traveller community into the course.
Another similar project is under development by my officials and Mayo County Council for 2022.
The “Moyross” project is an educational and equine therapy project where approx. €523k has been provided to a local initiative in Limerick City that aims to educate young people from disadvantaged areas in relation to equine care and welfare. A pilot project in one school was extended to five schools in disadvantaged areas of the city and continues with great success. The large settled Traveller community in the area benefits from the project, both in terms of education and equine therapy.
My officials continue to work with and support local authorities and NGOs in progressing urban horse projects and there are currently projects at every stage from the initial feasibility and planning stages to the operating stage around the country.
1125. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 372 of 27 January 2022, if he will provide an update on the status of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14106/22]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department.
I have been advised that, following conversation with the legal representatives of the person-named, the Director of Agriculture Appeals has assigned the matter to an Appeals Officer for review.
The Agriculture Appeals Office will be in contact with the person-named in due course to progress the matter.
1126. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a GLAS payment in respect of 2021 owed to persons (details supplied) has not yet been paid; if he will expedite the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14109/22]
View answerThe persons named were approved to GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1st October 2015.
Processing of the 2021 Advance Payment for the persons named are at an advanced stage and I expect the payment in this case to be finalised shortly. GLAS payments are continuing on a weekly basis as applications pass all validation checks and are approved for payment.
1127. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 775 of 8 March 2022, if he will the review case again (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14143/22]
View answerA review has been initiated in this case and is currently being processed. The person named will be informed of the outcome as soon as it is available.
1128. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when does the land change from agricultural land to commercial land for the purposes of valuation and succession where agricultural land is leased to become a solar farm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14145/22]
View answerFollowing a review announced in Budget 2018 by my colleague the Minister for Finance, Pascal Donohoe TD, and in recognition of the then Government's commitment to facilitate the development of solar energy projects in Ireland, a revised approach was introduced to qualifying agricultural property for the purposes of agricultural relief from Capital Acquisitions Tax or Capital Gains Tax retirement relief.
Since then, under certain conditions, land leased for the installation of solar panels can be classified as qualifying agricultural property. A key condition is that the total area of land under lease and on which solar panels are installed does not exceed 50% of the total area of agricultural land.
While primary responsibility for taxation policy is with the Minister for Finance, I continue to work closely with him to ensure that the tax code reflects the Government’s priorities for the agrifood sector and the economy generally.
1129. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he or officials from his Department have engaged in any form of communication with the World Economic Forum or representatives of the World Economic Forum including by phone call, webinar, email or any event organised by the World Economic Forum from 1 January 2019 to date; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14153/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that neither myself nor officials from my Department have engaged in any form of communication with the World Economic Forum or representatives of the World Economic forum from 1st January 2019 to date.
1130. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive their GLAS payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14238/22]
View answerAll payments under the GLAS scheme are currently up to date in this case.
1131. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of samples that were taken to be tested for TB annually in 2019, 2020 and 2021; the breakdown of the samples taken for testing by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14241/22]
View answer1132. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of samples taken to be tested for TB which came back positive, negative or inconclusive in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14242/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1131 and 1132 together.
The attached table details, per county, the number of bovine TB tests carried out, the number of reactor animals, the number of animals whose test result was inconclusive and the number of animals that tested negative under the Bovine TB Eradication Programme in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
This disease causes untold hardship for farmers and farming families, and my Department, working together with stakeholders and engaging with farmers, are committed to eradicating this disease.
At the start of 2021, I launched a new Bovine TB Eradication Strategy 2021-2030. The implementation of this strategy is overseen by the Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum with support from three working groups on science, implementation and finance to ensure that all aspects of the Strategy are addressed. We now have the building blocks in place to lower disease incidence and reduce the challenges associated with a TB restriction.
1133. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers required to make payment to his Department arising from the BEAM scheme; the average payment; the average amount interest; the amount of payments made; the amount outstanding by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14263/22]
View answerThe detailed information requested by the Deputy is being assembled and will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.
|
County name |
County ref |
Balance As at 31032022 |
|
Carlow |
A Total |
184,629 |
|
Cavan |
B Total |
431,717 |
|
Clare |
C Total |
430,974 |
|
Cork |
D Total |
1,007,750 |
|
Donegal |
E Total |
342,880 |
|
Dublin |
F Total |
29,570 |
|
Galway |
G Total |
1,019,071 |
|
Kerry |
H Total |
362,194 |
|
Kildare |
I Total |
283,040 |
|
Kilkenny |
J Total |
500,420 |
|
Laois |
K Total |
530,199 |
|
Leitrim |
L Total |
161,100 |
|
Limerick |
M Total |
530,797 |
|
Longford |
N Total |
273,514 |
|
Louth |
O Total |
183,043 |
|
Mayo |
P Total |
606,479 |
|
Meath |
Q Total |
549,509 |
|
Monaghan |
R Total |
545,046 |
|
Offaly |
S Total |
537,508 |
|
Roscommon |
T Total |
610,054 |
|
Sligo |
U Total |
227,472 |
|
Tipperary |
V Total |
931,001 |
|
Waterford |
W Total |
266,266 |
|
Westmeath |
X Total |
508,192 |
|
Wexford |
Y Total |
340,117 |
|
Wicklow |
Z Total |
158,961 |
|
11,551,503 |
1134. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, he has considered deferring the BEAM scheme repayments or if he has engaged with the European Commission seeking further flexibility in view of current rising input costs volatility in feed accessibility and prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14264/22]
View answerI am acutely aware of the challenges facing farmers with regard to very significantly increased input costs, arising from the impact of the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine.
At an emergency Agriculture Council on 2nd March, I joined colleagues from across the EU in highlighting concerns about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, food security across Europe, and the availability and price of animal feed and fertilisers.
I welcomed Agriculture Commissioner Wojciechowski’s assurance that the European Commission stands ready to make support measures available as required. I look forward to the Commission’s detailed proposals in this regard.
The Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) provided temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland, subject to the conditions set out in EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132. BEAM was funded by a combination of EU aid and Exchequer support. It was provided to support Irish beef farmers who saw beef prices fall as a result of disturbance to the market.
Some 10,342 BEAM participants, who opted for the deferred reduction period under the scheme, have now been processed and while 2,872 were found to have met the 5% reduction requirement 7,470 did not. BEAM participants agreed to the terms and conditions which stated that:
“where a penalty is applied, the applicant shall be required to reimburse the Department by the amount of the penalty, or the amount of the penalty may be deducted from subsequent payments being made by the Department, under any scheme, to the applicant”.
As the BEAM scheme was co-funded by the EU, under EU Regulations governing the accreditation of the Department as an EU Paying Agency, my Department is obliged to recover amounts unduly paid plus any interest at the earliest opportunity. The rate of interest is set by regulation at 3% per annum. Any money still outstanding to my Department one month after the notification of the overpayment is subject to interest.
BEAM participants have been notified of this and have also been informed of the re-payment options available to them. Anyone for whom the recoupment of their BEAM payment will cause serious financial hardship can contact the Accounts Division of my Department to discuss extended repayment arrangements by telephone on (049) 4368207.
1135. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the 21 recommendations from the Mackinnon report of November 2019 that have been implemented; the status of those which have not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14265/22]
View answerImplementation of the Mackinnon report is well underway through Project Woodland, which was established by, Minister of State Pippa Hackett, a year ago to improve the licensing system and deal with the backlog, and to drive forward the planting of trees under a shared vision for forestry in Ireland. I am pleased to report that significant progress has been made.
All recommendations are actively in progress, with some completed, and I attach a table with a detailed update on each., I will take this opportunity to summarise progress on specific items.
Significantly an end-to-end review of the licensing process has been completed and recommendations arising from that review have moved to the implementation stage. The draft regulatory review of the existing statutory framework for the licensing of forestry activities was presented to the Project Board recently and it is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.
A pre-application discussion pilot for afforestation applications is in place since January, and we are currently seeking quotes for a training needs analysis focussed on the licensing system.
The forestry licensing plan for 2022 details a range of forestry priorities for 2022, the delivery of which will reduce the backlog. The consultation on the new Forestry Strategy is underway, with a public attitudes survey and a community engagement survey already completed while bilateral engagement with key stakeholders is well under way and an online public consultation opened on 16th March. A deliberative dialogue is planned for May.
A more detailed update on progress under each of the Mackinnon recommendations is contained in the attached table.
1136. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of pig herds in the State in brackets of 0-99, 100-199 and 200-299, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14266/22]
View answerThe data requested is provided in the table below. This information is based on data returned in respect of the 2020 Annual Pig Census undertaken by my Department in October 2020. (Where numbers in any category at county level are low, it is reported as reported as < 5 to avoid release of what might be construed as personal data.)
The 2020 Annual Pig Census Report is published on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/5b140b-national-pig-census-2019/#
My Department is currently in the process of completing the 2021 Pig Census Report. Preliminary data indicates that the numbers recorded for those categories in 2021 will be similar to those recorded in 2020.
Table - Number of Active Pig Herds by County by Size in 2020
|
County |
0 - 99 Pigs |
100 - 199 Pigs |
200 - 299 Pigs |
|
Carlow |
36 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Cavan |
89 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Clare |
41 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Cork |
198 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Donegal |
57 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Dublin |
23 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Galway |
57 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Kerry |
41 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Kildare |
41 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Kilkenny |
52 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Laois |
47 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Leitrim |
26 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Limerick |
36 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Longford |
22 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Louth |
14 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Mayo |
40 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Meath |
62 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Monaghan |
25 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Offaly |
25 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Roscommon |
23 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Sligo |
16 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Tipperary |
85 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Waterford |
42 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Westmeath |
45 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Wexford |
92 |
<5 |
<5 |
|
Wicklow |
47 |
9 |
<5 |
|
Total |
1,282 |
14 |
15 |
1137. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details on the amount of funding provided to an organisation (details supplied) in each of the years from 2018 to 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14372/22]
View answerI assure the Deputy that animal welfare is a high priority for my Department and considerable resources and funding are provided to address the issue. The Programme for Government includes an undertaking to provide additional funding in support of animal welfare in the coming years to which I am fully committed. Animal welfare organisations are allocated funding on the basis of clear criteria, including the requirement for each organisation to be registered with the Charities' Regulator, and to submit up-to-date accounts.
The organisation in question has a strong record with a broad reach in rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing animals and employs a number of trained inspectors. As a recognition of this, the following amounts have been awarded from 2018 to 2022 (central + regional branches):
2018 - €490,000
2019 - €532,000
2020 - €576,000
2021 - €668,500
2022 - No payments to date
1138. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of Departmental audits that have been performed on the use of Exchequer funding allocated to affiliate animal welfare organisations from 2018 to 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14373/22]
View answerMy Department provides funding to animal welfare charities each year. The funding is provided only to charities registered with the Charities Regulator, and subject to the requirements of Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) Circular 13/2014.
As part of a review of the animal welfare grant process, my Department's Internal Audit Unit undertook a full audit of the grant allocation process in 2021 and findings concluded that control risk is low.
In addition to the requirements laid down in circular 13/2014, all applicants for funding must provide supporting accounts dependent on their level of income as follows:
- organisations with income below €13,000 (net of DAFM contributions) must provide a statement of accounts signed and dated by an executive in the organisation showing Income and Expenditure for the most recent 12 month period;
- organisations with income between €13,000 and €100,000 must provide certified accounts
- organisations with income in excess of €100,000 must provide audited accounts
In addition, all applicant organisations are inspected by an official from the local Regional Veterinary Office as part of the grant approval process.
1139. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of calls received by his Department's animal welfare helpline by county from 2018 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14374/22]
View answerMy Department continues to operate a confidential animal welfare helpline and email through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect. All case of alleged neglect or cruelty are investigated and appropriate actions, up to and including prosecution, may be taken.
The e-mail address and Helpline number for reporting suspected cases of animal welfare breaches are as follows:
Call Save - 0761 064408, phone - 01 607 2379 or at animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie.
Below are the figures for animal welfare complaints received through the helpline and dedicated email address by my Department for the years in question:
|
County |
2022 up to 10/03/2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
|
Carlow |
7 |
17 |
17 |
12 |
16 |
|
Cavan |
5 |
13 |
20 |
13 |
21 |
|
Clare |
8 |
51 |
57 |
28 |
42 |
|
Cork |
26 |
73 |
100 |
49 |
69 |
|
Donegal |
6 |
47 |
42 |
23 |
26 |
|
Dublin |
22 |
74 |
77 |
57 |
97 |
|
Galway |
31 |
83 |
83 |
56 |
73 |
|
Kerry |
9 |
29 |
30 |
30 |
9 |
|
Kildare |
4 |
41 |
43 |
19 |
66 |
|
Kilkenny |
3 |
26 |
20 |
15 |
27 |
|
Laois |
3 |
22 |
20 |
21 |
46 |
|
Leitrim |
2 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
|
Limerick |
17 |
66 |
46 |
28 |
33 |
|
Longford |
0 |
9 |
11 |
5 |
9 |
|
Louth |
3 |
10 |
9 |
7 |
21 |
|
Mayo |
10 |
55 |
56 |
32 |
52 |
|
Meath |
4 |
35 |
24 |
26 |
34 |
|
Monaghan |
3 |
9 |
10 |
9 |
12 |
|
Offaly |
1 |
15 |
11 |
14 |
22 |
|
Roscommon |
12 |
28 |
23 |
17 |
25 |
|
Sligo |
4 |
32 |
12 |
17 |
23 |
|
Tipperary |
16 |
43 |
48 |
46 |
94 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
15 |
13 |
11 |
24 |
|
Westmeath |
6 |
15 |
19 |
19 |
33 |
|
Wexford |
9 |
15 |
17 |
18 |
20 |
|
Wicklow |
10 |
43 |
30 |
28 |
41 |
|
Total |
222 |
875 |
846 |
608 |
942 |
1140. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of inspectors in an organisation (details supplied) by county from 2018 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14375/22]
View answerThe details of employment numbers of the organisation in question are a matter for that organisation.
I can confirm, however, that I have authorised at any one time up to nine inspectors of the organisation as authorised officers under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013.
Details of the organisation's distribution of inspectors is a matter for their internal management and details are publically available on the organisation's website.
1141. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to seek an extension of the existing Irish territorial waters’ zone from 0-6 miles out to 12 miles and the existing 12-mile zone out to 20 miles; the benefits and estimated financial gains for the fishing industry; if this request has been agreed to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14388/22]
View answerUnder the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), Union fishing vessels have equal access to Union waters and resources, subject to the rules of the CFP. There are derogations to this access rule, including restrictions on access to Member States' coastal waters.
Last year, the European Commission published a proposal to rollover, for another ten years, the provisions relating to the restrictions on access to Member States' 6-12 nautical miles zones, as set out in the CFP Regulation (Regulation (EU) No. 1380/2013).
I had sought that this issue be dealt with in the context of the CFP Review. The matter of access to waters for fishing fleets is a sensitive issue and cannot be looked at in isolation. We must consider the wider context, particularly in light of the drastic changes arising from Brexit which have transformed the way fisheries in the Western Waters region are managed, imposed disproportionate burdens on Ireland and changed the overall balance in the CFP. However, the Commission views this as a technical amendment. This means that the proposal is now moving ahead of the CFP review process.
Last month, I secured Government approval to seek an extension of the 6 and 12 nautical miles zones out to 12 and 20 miles, respectively. I believe that there is a strong case to be made to increase the protections for Ireland’s fishing fleets in these waters, particularly against the background of Brexit.
I have written to the Commissioner to advise him of Ireland’s request and I have also written directly to my French colleague on the basis that France is most impacted and she is President of the Council at present. I will continue to engage with the Commissioner, fellow Fisheries Ministers and MEPs to seek to advance Ireland’s case on this matter.
