Written Answers Nos. 404-414
404. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will be made under GLAS to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15600/22]
View answerThe person named was approved to GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1st October 2015.
Processing of the 2021 payment for the person named is 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.
405. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the minimum stocking density or the number of stock or other agricultural activity that will be required under the CAP 2023-2027 to be eligible for grants under the CAP as an active farmer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15628/22]
View answerI have proposed that, from 2023, to be considered eligible for payment for a number of schemes to be introduced under the new CAP, my Department would carry out an “active farmer check” each year on all scheme applicants. This is to ensure the person receiving the scheme payments is the person farming the land being claimed.
Under the CAP Strategic Plan Regulation, Active farmers are defined as those “engaged in at least a minimum level of agricultural activity”. It is proposed that the minimum level of agricultural activity will be based on the minimum stocking rate requirement for grassland farms.
The Department will check existing databases such as the Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system, and the sheep and goat census. It is proposed that the minimum stocking requirement would be set at 0.10 Livestock Unit per hectare (LU/Ha), based on the new Eurostat coefficients. The new proposed minimum stocking rate of 0.10 LU/Ha maintains the link with 1 Ewe per hectare (1 Ewe = 0.10 LU) as it is in the current CAP. Farmers who meet the minimum stocking level required will be deemed to be active for the purposes of the "active farmer check".
For tillage farmers, it is proposed that the Department may look for evidence of the purchase of seed, fertiliser, plant protection products, etc. Farmers who do not have either livestock or crops will be asked to indicate on their application how they exercise an agricultural activity - for example, topping, or by selling hay or silage, or if they plan to purchase livestock in 2023.
406. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the full value of donkeys is counted for livestock density reasons for the ANC in cases in which a farmer has donkeys for four months of the year and an equivalent amount of other livestock for the rest of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15629/22]
View answerAs set out in the terms and conditions of the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme, only 50% of an applicant's stocking density requirement can be fulfilled using donkeys. Applicants are required to use other livestock to fulfil the other 50% stocking density requirement.
Donkeys held by a farmer will be taken into account towards satisfying the minimum stocking density requirements for the duration they are held by the farmer, subject to the maximum threshold for donkeys referenced above. To qualify for payments under the 2022 ANC scheme, farmers must maintain the minimum required value of 0.15 livestock units per hectare for seven consecutive months and satisfy the annual average requirement of 0.15 livestock units per hectare between all livestock types held by the farmer.
407. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure that farmers have access to affordable fertiliser. [15735/22]
View answerThe current situation in relation to the cost and availability of fertilisers is a significant concern.
There is no sign of fertiliser prices easing in the short to medium term as prices are being driven by a number of factors including global demand, energy prices and availability. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to significant hikes in energy prices and significant concerns around supply chain disruption.
I raised concerns in relation to the impacts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on agri-food supply chains, and especially on input costs at the extraordinary informal meeting of European Union Agriculture Ministers held on 2nd March. I underlined the need for market support and the need to maintain supply chains and to ensure an effective and functioning Single Market. Commissioner Wojciechowski is aware of concerns and is considering the issue of necessary supports under the CMO Regulation.
At the AgriFish Council of 21 March, I asked the EU Commission, as part of its work on monitoring markets, to keep a very close eye on the issue of fertiliser availability across the EU and to be ready to consider any measures that may help to alleviate the difficulties caused. The EU Commission is considering bringing in a private storage aid scheme for the pigmeat sector, as well as allowing other exceptional measures at Member Sate level to respond to market disturbances.
I launched the 2022 Soils, Nutrients and Fertiliser Campaign at Teagasc’s Ballyhaise College on 26th January in response to the unprecedented fertiliser price levels. This is a credible roadmap that will help alleviate the short term price pressure while helping farmers reduce their dependency on chemical fertiliser in the longer-term. Teagasc has also recently issued revised advice to farmers on the recommended application amounts of fertilisers for silage fields to reflect the increase in fertilisers.
At a meeting of farm organisations on 8th March, I established a National Fodder and Food Security Committee to explore all options to minimise the impact on farms and plan in the short to medium term. This Group continues to meet and it is expected that its outcomes will be presented shortly.
Given Ireland’s dependence on imported feed, I have announced a €12 million support package to encourage Irish tillage farmers to grow more crops. This targeted measure is to support the production of more native crops and also crops with a lower demand for chemical fertiliser.
My Department continues to closely monitor the evolving situation and is actively engaging with the fertiliser industry to evaluate stock levels and availability and assist in ensuring the ongoing continuity of supply.
408. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the quota of mackerel from Irish waters given to France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15748/22]
View answer413. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the quota of mackerel given to Ireland in the waters of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15759/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 413 together.
The Atlantic Mackerel is a widely distributed, migratory pelagic fish that inhabits much of the north-eastern Atlantic shelf. The distribution of catches ranges from the north of the Norwegian Sea to the south coast of Portugal and Spain. Mackerel is targeted by a number of fleets throughout the year with large catches in northern waters during summer and the northern North Sea and to the west of Scotland and Ireland during the spawning migration in the winter months
The Total Allowable Catches (TAC) for the stock has been divided into a North Sea TAC (EU, UK and Norway), a Western TAC (EU, UK, Norway and Faroes), a Southern TAC (EU) and a North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission TAC (Coastal Sates, Iceland and Russia). Ireland's mackerel quota is mainly from the Western stock area.
Under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), EU Member State quotas are made available by specified stock area , and not by Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Generally most stock areas straddle more than one EEZ area. The Western mackerel TAC, where Ireland has a large quota share, covers ICES area 6, 7, 8a, 8b, 8d and 8e, United Kingdom and International waters of 5b, and international waters of 2a, 12 and 14. This covers a large area including certain Member States' and third countries' EEZs and international waters. Under the CFP, EU fishing fleets are, as a general principle, given equal access to EU waters and fishing grounds subject to allocated fish quotas. Irish fishing vessels fish across this extended area of Western waters for mackerel.
409. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of responses received to a survey of primary producers related to the unfair trading practices; the number of telephone surveys of agri-food suppliers undertaken; if he plans to publish the analysis of the survey findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15751/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Unfair Trading Practices Enforcement Authority (EA) recently commissioned a market research company to conduct a survey of farmers and fishers to establish baseline information on the following issues –
- awareness of the UTP Regulations and of the EA itself;
- supplier understanding of the protections afforded to them under the UTP Regulations; and
- the extent to which UTPs impact suppliers and the factors which influence them in deciding whether or not to make a complaint.
I am pleased to say that there was a significant response from farmers and fishers with 3,213 respondents taking the time to complete the survey and I want to thank all those who engaged with the survey.
At the same time as the online survey, a targeted phone survey was conducted of 200 supplier businesses that operate downstream of farmers and fishers, with the phone survey covering the same thematic areas as the online questionnaire.
The surveys represented a valuable opportunity for primary producers and businesses to inform the Enforcement Authority in confidence of any UTP-related issues they are facing and whether the buyers that they supply are treating them fairly and lawfully in compliance with the UTP Regulations. The high-level survey findings will be presented at an event planned for early May.
Further information of the event including registration details will be available shortly on www.utp.gov.ie.
410. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 274 of 17 November 2021, the reason for the upper age limit associated with enhanced TAMS for women in his proposed CAP strategic plan; if he will consider revising the limit and removing it entirely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15752/22]
View answerThe measures put forward as part of the new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) seek to address, inter alia, gender balance to ensure greater representation by women as farm holders in decision-making on farms and also seeks to address the need for generational renewal on farms.
Subject to the approval of the European Commission, it is proposed under an On-Farm Capital Investment Scheme under the CSP that a general grant rate of 40% will be available to all applicants for eligible investments. It is also proposed in the CSP that eligible young farmers and women farmers, who meet the eligibility criteria may qualify for grant aid at a rate of 60% to support generational renewal and gender balance.
The additional support available to young farmers is available to applicants subject to an upper age limit of 40 years. At the time of the previous PQ mentioned the proposed age limit for women farmers for the additional support was set at 55. The proposed age has now been increased to 66.
The proposed eligible female farmers are those:
- Aged between 18 years of age and 66 at any time during the calendar year in which an application for support is submitted.
- Meet the conditions for being head and having control of the holding;
- Meets the requirements for the appropriate training and/or skills required at application.
Applicants who do not meet the criteria above will remain eligible to submit an application under the On-Farm Capital investment scheme at the standard rate of 40%.
The Capital Investment Scheme, as is the case with all proposals under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), is in the process of development and is subject to the formal approval of the European Commission.
411. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged the Minister for Finance in response to rising fuel prices regarding the provision of a fuel subsidy akin to that to be received by hauliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15753/22]
View answerWhile 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.
On 9th March the Government announced a 20 cent reduction in the excise rate for petrol and a 15 cent reduction on auto diesel, with a proportionate 2 cent reduction for the excise on Marked Gas Oil (green diesel). These measures are VAT inclusive, costing an estimated €320m, and will last until 31 August 2022. Following these reductions, the overall excise rate for green diesel is some 12 cent per litre versus 41 cent per litre for auto diesel (on a VAT exclusive basis).
Regarding that 12 cent per litre, farmers continue to be eligible for a double income tax relief, which compensates for increases in the carbon tax element from the 2012 base rate of €15 per tonne of CO2 emissions. Section 664A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides that a farmer may take an income tax or corporation tax deduction for farm diesel (including any carbon tax charged in respect of the diesel) and then a further deduction for farm diesel which is equal to the difference between the carbon tax charged and the carbon tax that would have been charged had it been calculated at the rate of €41.30 per 1,000 litres of farm diesel (the 2012 baseline). This equates to almost 5 cent per litre.
Different VAT rates also apply, 23% on auto diesel and 13.5% on green diesel.
My colleagues across Government and i continue monitor the situation closely.
412. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 215 of 2 June 2021, the progress made with digitising key search aids with regard to the Land Commission; the projected timeline of this project; the result of the initial scoping of the pre-1922 records; the timeline associated with such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15754/22]
View answerMy officials continue to work towards the goal of providing greater access to the records of the Irish Land Commission. As a first step, my Department is working to digitise the search aids used to navigate the archive with a view to making them available to the public in due course. My Department is currently engaging with external experts on how best to achieve that objective.
The timeline for the work required is difficult to project at this point in time. Rather, at this early stage, it is more important that my officials are focused primarily on ensuring that they have the best advice and information available to them, to ensure that the project can be progressed in an appropriate and effective manner, with the care and conservation of the search aids and the records as the primary objective.
I wish to emphasise that members of the public requiring access to the records continue to be facilitated by my staff in the Records Branch. Moreover, academics and researchers requiring access to the records can apply for access to my staff at Records Branch and each application will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
In relation to the Beyond 2022 project, my Department entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Trinity College Dublin, granting that project group access to former Land Commission Records. The Beyond 2022 project is working to recreate the records lost in the destruction of the Public Records Office of Ireland at the Four Courts in 1922 and is not managed by my Department. For this reason, I am not in a position to report on the results of their scoping exercise or on the specific timelines to which they may be working.
414. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail cad iad na céimeanna a bheidh i gceist le forbairt na Céibhe ag an gCaladh Mór in Inis Meáin; cad é an t-am measta a thógfaidh gach céim; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [15635/22]
View answerTá forbairt an Chaladh Mhóir ar Inis Meáin san áireamh sa Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta. Mar is eol don Teachta is faoi chúram Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe atá Céim 3 d’fhorbairt na céibhe sin.
Bhí cruinniú ag oifigigh na Roinne le Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe agus coiste áitiúil ar an 18ú Feabhra chun an dul chun cinn atá déanta go dtí seo a phlé, chomh maith leis na céad céimeanna eile sa bplean forbartha.
Mar chuid lárnach den obair ullmhúcháin tá Coláiste Náisiúnta Mara na hÉireann (NMCI) ag forbairt macasamhail digiteach den ché agus an timpeallacht mhuirí sa chuan. Tá an Chomhairle Contae ag bailiú sonraíocht teicniúil na mbád a bhaineann úsáid as an gcé chun go mbeidh an t-ionsamhlú atá á fhorbairt chomh cruinn agus beacht agus is féidir. Tá súil go mbeidh sé seo curtha i gcrích ag an NMCI, tástáil déanta air ag na bádóirí, agus aiseolas tugtha, faoi dheireadh mí Lúnasa.
Anuas air seo, tá suirbhéireacht bataiméadrach le déanamh sa chuan. Tá súil go mbeidh an obair sin déanta roimh dheireadh mhí Aibreáin, ach tá sé sin ag braith go mór ar aimsir agus cúinsí mara.
Beidh an Chomhairle Contae in ann cás gnó a dhréachtú bunaithe ar an eolas a bhéas mar thoradh ar an obair sin ar fad. Is ag an bpointe sin a bheas an Roinn ábalta measúnú a dhéanamh ar na céad céimeanna eile sa togra.
