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Thursday, 31 Mar 2022

Written Answers Nos. 161-180

Pigmeat Sector

Questions (161)

Brendan Smith

Question:

161. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an additional financial support package will be introduced to assist the pigmeat sector through present difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17030/22]

View answer

Written answers

Our pig farmers have always been remarkably resilient but I am acutely aware of the unprecedented challenges that Irish pig farmers are facing at present.

The continued development of the pigmeat sector is a priority for me given the pivotal role the industry plays in the national economic context. It is the third largest agri-food sector, and supports approximately 8,000 rural jobs.

Last month, I announced the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme (PEPS), with a fund of up to €7 million, for commercial pig farmers. This is an urgent, short-term response to assist producers that would be viable but for the extreme current circumstances, and allow space for a more medium-term adjustment to market signals.

This scheme is a once-off, exchequer funded scheme open to commercial pig undertakings which had produced more than 200 pigs in the period 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021 inclusive. This includes pigs sent to slaughter, exported or sold commercially from a breeding herd.

The scheme was notified to the European Commission under the agriculture de minimis rules, which provide for a maximum payment per undertaking of €20,000.

Applications for the PEPS closed on 20th March 2022. The first tranche of payments was made last week, with the remaining applications due for processing as soon as possible. All information on the scheme can be found on my Department's website.

This scheme is part of a wider package of measures to support the pigmeat sector, including intensified efforts by Bord Bia to promote quality assured Irish pigmeat in the domestic and export markets with dedicated media advertising campaigns under way nationally, as well as EU-funded pigmeat promotion programmes running in key export markets.

Teagasc has also intensified its dedicated, ongoing advisory supports being provided to pig farmers and is actively engaging with pig farmers to explore the options potentially available to them.

There is also support for access to finance through the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), particularly the Brexit Impact Loan Scheme and the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme. Both of these SBCI finance products, which are part-financed by my Department, can be used for working capital and include features which will assist the current financial needs of pig farmers.

Furthermore, the Department continues to engage at EU level to ensure a joined-up EU approach to the challenges arising from Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, including through the European Food Security Crisis preparedness response Mechanism (EFSCM).

Last week the Commission announced the adoption of exceptional support measures across the agriculture sector, along with a communication on Food Security. In addition, the Commission in view of the particularly difficult situation in the pig meat sector has opened a new private storage aid scheme to assist in stabilising the sector.

The Department is currently examining the detailed requirements and conditionality attached to the exceptional aid allocation to Ireland of €15.8 million in EU funding. We continue to engage with the pig sector and we are considering potential options to support it.

Along with Minister of State Martin Heydon, I met with the IFA on Tuesday night following its rally. Officials from the Department have agreed to meet with the IFA on its proposal and I will also engage with the IFA in the coming days.

Horticulture Sector

Questions (162)

Brendan Smith

Question:

162. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when measures will be introduced to ensure there is an adequate supply of domestic peat for the mushroom and horticulture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14870/22]

View answer

Written answers

From having met with representatives of the sector in recent weeks and months, I am aware of the challenges facing the industry.

On 17th January, my Department, in conjunction with the Departments of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), and Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Housing) set out a paper that sets out a series of actions to support the horticultural growers who are dependent on peat as a growing medium.

In these targeted actions, which reflect the multi-faceted nature of the problem, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is endeavouring to address the short-term issue of supply, the medium term one of future access to peat and also the longer-term issue of replacement with alternatives.

As one of the key short-term actions in that working paper, my Department has recruited an independent expert to work with growers, and suppliers, including Bord na Móna, to ascertain the level of horticultural peat stocks available to growers.

This expert will also work with Bord na Móna, other suppliers and growers to ascertain whether or not any hobby or other peat on their estate would be of interest or value to growers. Such peat might be suitable for mixing by current suppliers to produce a growing medium of value to growers. This work is currently under way.

I also announced the commissioning of experts to provide focussed regulatory guidance on planning to assist those wishing to extract peat in the medium term for horticulture growers, contracts have been agreed with experts for the preparation of this guidance and this work will start immediately.

This expert guidance document when published will provide a valuable resource to those seeking legal compliance for the abstraction of horticultural peat on sub-30 hectare bogs for supply to the domestic horticulture industry.

My Department in also looking towards the future will continue to support and facilitate research in the development of alternatives to peat for horticulture through my Department's Research Calls and through the EU Producer Organisation Scheme for Fruit and Vegetables.

Farm Costs

Questions (163)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

163. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the support for horticultural and other agrifood producers impacted by the rise in energy costs and raw materials such as gas and carbon dioxide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16786/22]

View answer

Written answers

The people of Ireland have shown great support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. The Government also remains resolute in its solidarity & support and will continue to co-ordinate a humanitarian, economic and diplomatic response to the crisis.

Significant implications are being seen across all sectors, including the agri-food sector. As well as the immediate humanitarian crisis, which must take priority, we need to take the necessary steps to ensure that food security is maintained, for EU citizens, for the Ukrainian people and in the wider global context.

At farm level, the crisis is already impacting very significantly on the price of animal feed, fertiliser and fuel. Within my Department, I have established a Rapid Response Team, chaired by the Secretary General, to actively monitor the impacts on agri-food supply chains and to contribute to the whole of Government response to this crisis.

I have tasked a National Fodder and Food Security Committee headed by Teagasc to prepare an industry response to the emerging crisis in feed, fodder, fertiliser and other inputs, and to develop contingency plans and advice to assist farmers in managing their farm enterprises.

On 22nd March, the Government approved my proposal for a targeted intervention package for the tillage sector and a multi-species sward initiative, worth over €12 million to support Irish farmers. This package is aimed at producing more native crops and reducing dependency on imports, and on producing crops with a low demand for chemical fertiliser.

An emergency aid scheme for pig farmers of €7 million opened for applications on 7 March. This will provide commercial pig farmers a payment of up to €20,000 each. The first payments to pig farmers under this scheme began to issue last week.

I am also aware of the particular issues in horticulture and have engaged with the sector. Energy is a significant input for many horticulture enterprises as crops, such as tomatoes, cucumbers and mushrooms, are grown indoors in glasshouses and in protected greenhouse structures. Energy price inflation is obviously an issue across the whole economy and the Government has already taken action and will continue to consider additional measures in this regard.

As part of my Backing Rural Ireland tour, I met with members of the horticulture sector in north Co Dublin. I was impressed by their skill, determination and braveness. We need to ensure that we have a vibrant domestic horticulture sector. This is something that both I and the Government want to protect.

At EU level I have met with EU Agriculture Ministers and on 23rd March the European Commission announced a package of measures to assist the sector including a €500 million package to support farmers most affected. This includes an allocation of €15.8 million for Ireland, which can be topped up by national funding. I will be examining ways to best mobilise this support as soon as possible, taking account of the detailed requirements and conditionality attached to this exceptional aid provision.

The EU package also includes plans to deploy market safety net measures to support specific markets including private storage aid for pigmeat.

I will continue to engage with all our stakeholders and will continue to work across Government, and with our European partners, to respond to this crisis using all of the tools at our disposal.

Animal Welfare

Questions (164)

Thomas Gould

Question:

164. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an update will be provided on the establishment of a horse project in Cork city. [16953/22]

View answer

Written answers

My Department is fully committed to supporting sustainable, One Health, One Welfare initiatives in line with the Programme for Government and Working Together for Animal Welfare, Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025 and continues to support a number of urban horse projects nationwide. These projects can foster community leadership and education in responsible horse ownership for young people from disadvantaged communities or backgrounds.

Typically, supports for the projects are provided by the Local Authorities and funding provided by my Department is paid directly through the Local Authorities to support these projects.

Through Cork City Council, my Department has supported the Cork City Horse Project which is a collaborative initiative involving Cork City and County Councils and community stakeholders including the Traveller Visibility Group. In 2016, my Department supported three equine education modules undertaken by the Project with funding of almost €20,000 though our Urban Horse Projects scheme.

My Department continues to participate in the group's meetings, where in recent years, efforts have been focused on finding suitable space to locate a Horse Project within the Cork City boundaries.

My Department would very much welcome a submission from the Project, through Cork City Council, for assistance under our Urban Horse Projects scheme once a suitable location has been established in the City.

Pesticide Use

Questions (165)

Steven Matthews

Question:

165. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the status of a review of pesticide use across the agricultural sector as committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17027/22]

View answer

Written answers

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is carrying out the Programme for Government commitment through its implementation of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive which includes a range of activities such as training, data gathering, registration of users, advisors and distributors of pesticides and testing of application equipment.

A number of measures are in place to review pesticide use across the agriculture sector. These include collection and analysis of pesticides sales data on an annual basis, a rolling programme of pesticide usage surveys, covering all the main crops, and calculation of Harmonised Risk Indicators for assessing trends in pesticide use.

These Harmonised Risk Indicators were established at EU level in 2019 to estimate the trends in pesticide use. The calculations for Ireland are updated annually, reported to the Commission and published. The latest figures for Ireland show a continuing downward trend.

Further developments to improve the collection and use of pesticide statistics and risk indicators are currently being considered at EU level as part of a new regulatory framework for the implementation of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy.

The Commission will present a proposal for a Regulation to replace the Sustainable Use Directive in the coming months and I will work constructively with other Member States in finalising and adopting this regulation.

Horticulture Sector

Questions (166)

Martin Browne

Question:

166. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made in the appointment of an independent expert as referenced in the working paper to address challenges related to peat supply in the horticulture sector; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in the meantime businesses in the horticultural sector are experiencing difficulties in raising queries with Bord na Móna regarding the availability of suitable peat stocks. [16992/22]

View answer

Written answers

On 17th January, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in conjunction with the Departments of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), and Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Housing) set out a working paper in place that sets out a series of actions to support the horticultural growers who are dependent on peat as a growing medium.

In these targeted actions which reflect the multi-faceted nature of the problem, Government is endeavouring to address the short-term issue of supply, the medium term one of future access to peat and also the longer-term issue of replacement with alternatives.

As one of the key short-term actions in that working paper, my Department has recruited an independent expert to work with growers, and suppliers, including Bord na Móna, to ascertain the level of horticultural peat stocks available to growers. This expert will also work with Bord na Móna, other suppliers and growers to ascertain whether or not any hobby or other peat on their estate would be of interest or value to growers. Such peat might be suitable for mixing by current suppliers to produce a growing medium of value to growers.

The second key action that was announced was the commissioning of experts to provide focussed regulatory guidance on planning to assist those wishing to extract peat in the medium term for horticulture growers. My Department has recruited planning experts for the preparation of this guidance and work is currently under way. This expert guidance document when published will provide a valuable resource to those seeking legal compliance for the abstraction of horticultural peat on sub-30 hectare bogs for supply to the domestic horticulture industry.

Horticultural businesses have not contacted me regarding difficulties in contacting Bord na Móna regarding availability of suitable peat stocks. I assure the Deputy that we are leaving no stone unturned to protect this vital sector in the short, medium and long term.

Food Industry

Questions (167)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

167. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to maintain and develop food security in Ireland given the impact of the Ukrainian crisis on European food supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16991/22]

View answer

Written answers

Last year, Ireland was ranked first in terms of food security, according to the Economist's Global Food Security Index across a range of indicators.

The people of Ireland have shown great support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. The Government also remains resolute in its solidarity & support and will continue to co-ordinate a humanitarian, economic and diplomatic response to the crisis.

Significant implications are being seen across all sectors, including the agri-food sector. As well as the immediate humanitarian crisis, which must take priority, we need to take the necessary steps to ensure that food security is maintained, for EU citizens, for the Ukrainian people and in the wider global context.

At farm level, the crisis is already impacting on the price of animal feed, fertiliser and fuel. Within my Department, I have established a Rapid Response Team, chaired by the Secretary General, to actively monitor the impacts on agri-food supply chains and to contribute to the whole of Government response to this crisis.

I have established the National Fodder and Food Security Committee headed by Teagasc and tasked it to prepare an industry response to the emerging crisis in feed, fodder, fertiliser and other inputs, and to develop contingency plans and advice to assist farmers in managing their farm enterprises.

On 22nd March, the Government approved my proposal for a targeted intervention package for the tillage sector and a multi-species sward initiative, worth over €12 million to support Irish farmers. This package is aimed at producing more native crops and reducing dependency on imports, and on producing crops with a low demand for chemical fertiliser.

An emergency aid scheme for pig farmers of €7 million opened for applications on 7 March. This will provide commercial pig farmers a payment of up to €20,000 each. The first payments to pig farmers under this scheme began to issue last week.

At EU level I have met with EU Agriculture Ministers and on 23rd March the European Commission announced a package of measures to assist the sector including a €500 million package to support farmers most affected.

This includes an allocation of €15.8 million for Ireland, which can be topped up by national funding. I will be examining ways to best mobilise this support as soon as possible, taking account of the detailed requirements and conditionality attached to this exceptional aid provision.

The EU package also includes plans to deploy market safety net measures to support specific markets including private storage aid for pigmeat.

I will continue to engage with all our stakeholders and will continue to work across Government, and with our European partners, to respond to this crisis using all of the tools at our disposal. I assure the Deputy that both I and the Government are committed to protecting our farm families and their businesses through period of great challenge and uncertainty.

Agriculture Industry

Questions (168)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

168. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way that Ireland can engage with its partners in Europe in order to protect European agricultural markets. [16959/22]

View answer

Written answers

Since the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, I have participated in an extraordinary EU Agriculture Ministers meeting on 2nd March and the Agri-Fish Council in Brussels on 21st March. The Ukrainian agriculture minister, Roman Leschenko, spoke via videoconference at the Agri-Fish Council about the impact of the Russian invasion on Ukraine's agriculture.

My Department has also been engaged at a number of EU meetings in recent weeks to discuss food security issues, including a meeting of the European Food Security Crisis preparedness and Response Mechanism (EFSCM).

I have outlined to my EU colleagues that Ireland has continued to strongly support the most extensive EU sanctions on Russia for its outrageous actions. We must also ensure that the actions we take in that wider context, together with the burden that must be borne, are sustainable, and this will only be the case if we do all we can to maintain food security, for our own citizens, for the Ukrainian people and in a wider international context.

I underlined my particular concerns in relation to the impacts of the conflict on agri-food supply chains, and especially on inputs such as fertiliser and feed. As the situation is obviously a volatile and evolving one, I stressed the need from an EU perspective to continually assess developments, and to be ready to take necessary responses to minimise the impact on our collective food security.

Following discussions at these meetings the European Commission announced on Wednesday 23rd March, via the communication “Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems”, a range of actions to enhance global food security and to support farmers and consumers in the EU in light of rising food prices and input costs.

These actions included Support through the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) EU countries' actions to provide food and/or basic material assistance to the most deprived. It also included €500 million to support farmers most affected, including an allocation of €15.8 million to Ireland; and agreement to deploy market safety net measures, including private storage aid for pigmeat.

Other actions approved included a new self-standing Temporary Crisis Framework (TCF) for state aid and allowing Member States to derogate from certain greening obligations in 2022 to bring additional agricultural land into production.

On 22nd March, the Government approved my proposal for a targeted intervention package for the tillage sector and a multi-species sward initiative, worth over €12 million to support Irish farmers. This package is aimed at producing more native crops while reducing dependency on imports and on crops with a low demand for chemical fertiliser.

I will continue to work with my EU colleagues to monitor the situation closely and consider all appropriate measures. This is one of the biggest challenges facing our sector and we must all work together to protect our farm families and their businesses.

Departmental Funding

Questions (169)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

169. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding available to research projects to help farmers reduce their carbon footprint; the projects that are currently under way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16787/22]

View answer

Written answers

The decarbonisation of agriculture and mitigating its contribution to climate change is a core ambition of this Government. Critical to this is the role that research, innovation and knowledge exchange plays in providing the strategies and practices that farmers can implement to reduce the carbon footprint of their farms.

The Department funds research in this area through national and international competitive funding mechanisms that over the last 6 years have allocated up to €30 million on climate, GHG emission mitigation and climate-related co-benefit research. Coupled to this is the grant-in-aid allocation to Teagasc, such as the €147m provided in 2021, which is directed towards research and farmer advisory activities related to climate-smart and sustainable agriculture.

Examples of projects funded by my Department which will feed into knowledge and strategies to reduce farm carbon footprints include:

- ‘Farm-Carbon’ which is exploring the contribution of on farm hedgerows and non-forest woodland to carbon stocks in agricultural landscapes.

- ‘SQUARE’, which includes identifying soils that have a high capacity to sequester carbon.

- ‘SmartGrass’ and ‘SmartSward’ which researched multi-species swards, and also served to inform the recently announced Multi-species Sward Measure as part of a support package to farmers worth €12m.

More recently, the strong commitment of my Department to research in support of reducing carbon footprints was further demonstrated by last year’s national research call, where over €12 million in funding awards was made to 10 projects in climate and environment related research, accounting for 60% of the overall spend in this call. One of the projects funded, ‘LAB-MACC’, will quantify mitigation associated with a range of new measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance land carbon sinks, and displace fossil fuel emissions, while another, ‘REWET’, will investigate how developing actions to restore the water table on drained carbon-rich soils can enhance carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere.

The Food Vision 2030 Strategy also points to the need for Irish research to build partnerships and collaboration internationally. This is an area that my Department has been active in. In 2021 for example, up to €2.5million was committed through European initiatives to research calls in the areas of GHG emission reduction and soil Carbon sequestration. We have also been longstanding members of the Global Research Alliance for Agricultural Greenhouse Gasses and more recently, have partnered on the United States-United Arab Emirates led initiative, the ‘Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate’, which will lead to an increased investment in climate related research.

Considering the wide range of research initiatives that are taking place and the ambitious recommendations for the role of research into the future under Food Vision 2030, I am confident that a strong pipeline of scientific advancements and knowledge is in place, which will help farmers to reduce the carbon footprint of their farms, while also contributing to a sustainable and resilient sector over the next decade.

Brexit Supports

Questions (170)

Matt Carthy

Question:

170. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding allocated to his Department from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve in 2022; and the areas to which his Department has allocated this funding. [16817/22]

View answer

Written answers

The Deputy will be aware that the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) provides financial support to the most affected Member States, regions and sectors to deal with the adverse consequences of Brexit.

To qualify for funding, expenditure must be incurred between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2023, and demonstrate a direct link to the negative impact of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU. Failure to do so will see the European Commission deem expenditure ineligible.

Funding under the BAR is aligned with the annual Estimates process. In 2022, €40m has been allocated for Brexit related purposes for the fisheries sector (€32m), the horticultural sector (€1m), and €7 million has been provided to fund an Enterprise Ireland capital investment scheme for meat and dairy processing.

The latter scheme will support investments aimed at product and market diversification. It is jointly funded by my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

It is expected that the €40m of funding as outlined, will come from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve.

I and my Department continue to engage with DPER on a number of Brexit related issues to examine which impacts of Brexit would require further supports which can be funded from BAR and I anticipate that my Department will receive further funding targeted at impacts from Brexit during 2022.

EU Funding

Questions (171)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

171. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals to allocate funds from the European crisis reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16868/22]

View answer

Written answers

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I attended an extraordinary EU Agriculture Ministers meeting on 2 March and the Agri-Fish Council in Brussels on 21st March. The Ukrainian agriculture minister, Roman Leschenko, was invited to speak, via videoconference, at the Agri-Fish Council about the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the agricultural sector.

The Department has also been engaged at a number of other EU meetings in recent weeks to discuss food security issues, including a meeting of the European Food Security Crisis preparedness and Response Mechanism (EFSCM). Following discussions at these meetings the European Commission announced on Wednesday 23 March, via the communication “Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems”, a range of actions to enhance global food security and to support farmers and consumers in the EU in light of rising food prices and input costs. The communication sets out actions in three areas:

- First, it presents immediate actions to safeguard food security in Ukraine and around the world.

- Second, it addresses the challenge of food stability in the EU's food system, with a range of measures to support our farmers and maintain affordability for our citizens.

- Finally, it confirms the EU agenda to make our food system sustainable and resilient in the years to come. It includes €500 million to support farmers most affected and agreement to deploy measures to support specific markets and allow for increased levels of advances of direct payments later this year. Other actions approved included a new self-standing Temporary Crisis Framework (TCF) for state aid and allowing Member States to derogate from certain greening obligations in 2022 to bring additional agricultural land into production. It includes an allocation of €15.8 million for Ireland, which can be topped up by national funding. I will be examining ways to best mobilise this support as soon as possible, taking account of the detailed requirements and conditionality attached to this exceptional aid provision. The EU package also includes plans to deploy market safety net measures to support specific markets including private storage aid for pigmeat. I will continue to engage with all our stakeholders and will continue to work across Government, and with our European partners, to respond to this crisis, using all of the tools at our disposal.

This is a considerable challenging facing our sector at present. I am committed to supporting our farm families and their businesses throughout this situation.

Forestry Sector

Questions (172)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

172. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends increasing afforestation grant rates immediately for both existing and new projects given the serious increases in costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16996/22]

View answer

Written answers

The current Forestry Programme, which commenced in 2015 and has been extended to the end of 2022, provides significant supports for afforestation. This includes grants and premiums for 12 different planting categories in order to promote a good species mix and the grant rate were calculated to cover 100% of the cost of establishing a forest. The current Programme was subject to a midterm review in 2018 which assessed the rates paid for all forestry schemes and increased the grants for all 12 categories of afforestation..

As the Deputy may be aware, Project Woodland was established in February 2021 to ensure that the current licensing backlog is addressed and that a new impetus is brought to woodland creation in Ireland. A national shared vision for the future of Ireland's trees and forests and a new Forestry Strategy are currently being developed. This new Forest Strategy will underpin a new Forestry Programme for the period 2023 - 2027.

An extensive public consultation process on the new strategy has commenced, and on-line portal is open since 16th March, 2022. Stakeholders will have an opportunity to raise any issues that they feel need to be addressed, including cost increases, with the Department. Work on the next Forestry Programme will include a review of grant rates and the Department will examine current forestry operational costs during that process.

In the meantime, the Department is introducing an enhanced payment for applicants and forestry companies to acknowledge the additional cost of submitting the various environmental reports where required. This will be delivered through a higher payment made when planting is complete.

The Department is very conscious of the afforestation target of 8,000ha per year set out in the Climate Action Plan and I am committed to working with all our stakeholders to substantially increase our afforestation rates over the next decade.

Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has responsibility for the sector, I am committed to having a fit-for-purpose sector.

Forestry Sector

Questions (173)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

173. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forest road approvals his Department must approve from now until the end of 2022 to ensure that all of the applications currently on hand in his Department are dealt with by 31 December 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16997/22]

View answer

Written answers

In 2021, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued 671 forest road works licences for 264km which is the highest ever volume of forest roads licensed in a single year. I believe that the volume of timber felled in 2021, based on the available forest road network and new forest road licences issued, was sufficient to stabilise the supply of timber to saw mills.

The Forestry Licensing plan for 2022 provides for the licensing of 5,250 applications for felling, forest roads and afforestation, an increase of 30% on 2021. Within that, the target for forest road licences is 850, an increase of 27% on 2021. This will be more than sufficient to deal any backlog and enable the haulage of timber from the forest estate when added to the existing roads already approved or installed in Irish forests.

I am committed to meeting the needs of the forest sector so that we have a thriving and sustainable industry and we will play our part by providing sufficient road and felling licences to service the industry this year.

Common Fisheries Policy

Questions (174)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

174. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the quota allocated to the Irish fishing fleet in each of the EEZs of other European Union member states under the Common Fisheries Policy. [16790/22]

View answer

Written answers

Under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), EU fishing fleets are given equal access to EU waters and fishing grounds subject to allocated fish quotas. There are derogations to this access rule, including restrictions on access to Member States' coastal waters.

Quotas for the various stocks are allocated for management areas - that is, an ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Seas) area or a part thereof - and not Member States' EEZs. Generally, most stock areas straddle more than one EEZ area. These stock areas can include Member States' EEZs, third countries' EEZs and international waters.

For example, the Total allowable Catch (TAC) area for the Hake Stock is ICES Areas 6 and 7 which stretches from the north of Scotland south to the north coast of Brittany, and into the English channel. This area includes parts of the UK EEZ, the Irish EEZ, part of the French EEZ and some international waters. Ireland's quota may be fished in any part of this area. Ireland's main Mackerel quota covers ICES Areas 6 and 7 stretching from north of Scotland to the north coast of Brittany and the full quota may be fished in UK waters of the northern North Sea. The access to the northern North Sea in particular is economically important for our fleet.

The share allocation of stocks between Member States was established as a principle of the first CFP in 1983 and was based on the average catch of each Member State over a period of reference years (track record). The only exception to this relates to the Hague Preferences, based on a special recognition agreement of the underdeveloped nature of the Irish fleet and the heavy control responsibility on us when Ireland joined the EU. The share out of TACs set in more recent years has also been mainly based on track record, the most recent of these of importance to Ireland has been boarfish.

The details of the stocks for which Ireland has quota are set out in the TAC and Quota Regulation each year.

Question No. 175 answered with Question No. 156.

Control of Horses

Questions (176)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

176. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied there is sufficient legislation to deal with the challenge of wandering and stray horses in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16955/22]

View answer

Written answers

The Control of Horses Act 1996 provides powers to local authorities enabling them to appoint authorised officers under the Act, enabling them to control stray and wandering horses in their areas. Enforcement of the Act is a matter for each local authority and my Department provides financial support to assist with these enforcement measures.

The scale and extent of straying equines has reduced significantly and consistently in recent years. Almost 5,000 horses were seized in 2014. In 2020, 817 horses were seized, a reduction of 84%. Indications are that even fewer horses had to be seized in 2021 under the Control of Horses Act in 1996.

The Control of Horses Act is currently under review with a view to simplifying and further improving the legislation. Plans are advancing and consultation with the local authorities is ongoing.

A broad stakeholder engagement process will follow to facilitate a cohesive national approach in considering and implementing the proposals.

Agriculture Industry

Questions (177)

Bríd Smith

Question:

177. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will examine or commission a study into the damaging environmental and social impacts of the business-led industrial model of Irish agriculture, specifically in circumstances in which only a small cohort of farmers seem to benefit from dairy expansion plans; and his views on the fact that only 20% of farmers receive 80% of CAP payments and that Ireland exports 90% of the amount that is produced in the State, while also importing five and a half million tonnes of grain to feed livestock. [17059/22]

View answer

Written answers

Ireland does not have a business-led industrial model of agriculture.

In fact its agricultural model is the opposite of that and is dominated by a family farm model supported by a grass fed livestock sector. This makes us truly unique. The family farm model is one that I support and one that I will continue to support.

Ireland’s agri-food sector comes together on a regular basis to plan for the future, typically every five years, with a 10-year horizon. This process is facilitated by, but independent of, my Department. In late 2019, a Committee of 32 members representative of the sector with an independent Chair, Tom Arnold, was established and tasked with developing the new strategy.

The terms of reference were to outline the vision and key objectives, with associated actions, required to ensure the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the agri-food sector in the decade ahead. The Committee held 13 meetings and following the publication of a draft Strategy and associated environmental assessments for public consultation in April, Food Vision 2030 was published in August last year.

Food Vision 2030, sets out an ambitious blueprint for the sector for the years ahead, supporting family farms and employment in rural Ireland and adding value sustainably into the future, with a strategic focus on environmental protection.

One of the standout aspects of Food Vision is its adoption of a food systems approach. A food systems approach involves considering the interconnectivity of the food system with the environment and with nutrition & health. A sustainable food system delivers food security and nutrition for all, in such a way that the economic, social and environmental bases to generate food security and nutrition for future generations are not compromised.

Food Vision aims for Ireland to be a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems. It consists of 22 Goals, which are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The goals are grouped into four high level missions for the sector to work towards.

1. A Climate Smart, Environmentally Sustainable Agri-Food Sector

2. Viable and Resilient Primary Producers with Enhanced Well-Being

3. Food that is safe, nutritious and appealing: trusted and valued at home and abroad

4. An Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Agri-Food Sector, driven by Technology and Talent.

There are over 200 recommended actions to achieve these goals and missions.

A Monitoring and Implementation Framework detailing oversight and monitoring mechanisms for implementation, including the establishment of a High Level Implementation Committee chaired by me, is a key part of the Strategy.

Implementation of Food Vision 2030 is already underway, with many of its actions already commenced. I recently chaired the second High-Level Implementation Committee meeting of Food Vision 2030, where we discussed progress on implementing key Food Vision priorities, including the work of a new Food Vision Environmental Group and a Food Vision Dairy Group.

Food Vision is a landmark for the Irish agri-food sector and has the potential to transform the agriculture, food, forestry and marine sectors in the period to 2030, with sustainability at its core. The Strategy is honest and upfront about the challenges ahead. Crucially, it proposes solutions and charts a pathway to sustainability in all its dimensions – environmental, economic and social.

Departmental Funding

Questions (178)

Matt Shanahan

Question:

178. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to a developing pastureland project incorporating multi-seed sward analysis research being undertaken at Waterford Institute of Technology; if he has considered allocating specific funding from his Department to this greenhouse gas reduction initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10483/22]

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Written answers

The attributes of our grasslands are the foundation for the added-value and quality of those foods produced from grazing livestock.

The Deputy is right to draw attention to multi-species swards. This is an area that my Department has been funding research in recently and which is demonstrating the positive impacts they can have on climate, soil, biodiversity and water quality in pasture-based systems.

Last week, I announced the opening of a scheme providing financial support to farmers to sow Multi-Species Swards (MSS). We are targeting the planting of 12,000ha of MSS this year.

While I am unable to comment further on the project the Deputy is referring to until further information is provided, I am pleased to highlight involvement by the Waterford Institute of Technology in a project involving multi-species swards, ‘LoCAM-Dairy’, which received funding of just under €600,000 from my Department.

This project aims to demonstrate the environmental sustainability and generate greenhouse gas emission factors associated with the reseeding of grasslands using multi-species swards coupled with no nitrogen fertiliser application. Projects such as this are essential for feeding into the scientific evidence-base that it is critical to turn research into policy and practice, which has been demonstrated recently through the roll out of the Multi-Species Sward Measure at farm level.

It is also important to highlight the recognition in Food Vision 2030 of multi-species swards as a priority for enhanced research. In line with this, my Department will continue to support the research needed to investigate aspects of multi-species swards in an Irish context and in particular, the role they can play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving soil structure and enhancing biodiversity, while also maintaining the quality of our meat and dairy produce and supporting the viability of farmers.

Food Industry

Questions (179)

Holly Cairns

Question:

179. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to improve national food security and sovereignty. [17043/22]

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Written answers

Ireland is among the most food secure countries in the world.

In that context it is important to recognise that Ireland is part of the EU single market and participates in the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), which is the key mechanism for ensuring food security throughout Europe.

Specifically in the context of the Ukrainian crisis, significant implications are being seen across all sectors, including the agri-food sector.

As well as the immediate humanitarian crisis, which must take priority, we need to take the necessary steps to ensure that food security is maintained. Following recent discussions at EU level, the European Commission announced on Wednesday 23rd March, via the communication “Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems”, a range of actions to enhance global food security and to support farmers and consumers in the EU in light of rising food prices and input costs. The communication sets out actions in three areas:

- First, it presents immediate actions to safeguard food security in Ukraine and around the world.

- Second, it addresses the challenge of food stability in the EU's food system, with a range of measures to support our farmers and maintain affordability for our citizens.

- Finally, it confirms the EU agenda to make our food system sustainable and resilient in the years to come. It includes €500 million to support farmers most affected and agreement to deploy measures to support specific markets and allow for increased levels of advances of direct payments later this year. Other actions approved included a new self-standing Temporary Crisis Framework (TCF) for state aid and allowing Member States to derogate from certain greening obligations in 2022 to bring additional agricultural land into production. It includes an allocation of €15.8 million for Ireland, which can be topped up by national funding. I am examining ways to best mobilise this support as soon as possible, taking account of the detailed requirements and conditionality attached to this exceptional aid provision. The EU package also includes plans to deploy market safety net measures to support specific markets including private storage aid for pigmeat. I will continue to engage with all our stakeholders and will continue to work across Government, and with our European partners, to respond to this crisis, using all of the tools at our disposal. At farm level, the crisis is already impacting very significantly on the price of animal feed, fertiliser and fuel. Within my Department, I have established a Rapid Response Team, chaired by the Secretary General, to actively monitor the impacts on agri-food supply chains and to contribute to the whole of Government response to this crisis.

I also established the National Fodder and Food Security Committee headed by Teagasc and tasked it to prepare an industry response to the emerging crisis in feed, fodder, fertiliser and other inputs, and to develop contingency plans and advice to assist farmers in managing their farm enterprises.

On 22nd March, the Government approved my proposal for a targeted intervention package for the tillage sector and a multi-species sward initiative, worth over €12 million to support Irish farmers. This package is aimed at producing more native crops and reducing dependency on imports, and on producing crops with a low demand for chemical fertiliser. In addition, on the future of Ireland's agri-food sector generally, you will be aware that the new Food Vision 2030 strategy was launched last August. Food Vision is a landmark for the Irish agri-food sector and is honest and upfront about the challenges ahead. Crucially, it proposes solutions and charts a pathway to sustainability in all its dimensions. Food Vision aims for Ireland to be a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems, which would deliver food security and nutrition for all in such a way that the economic, environmental and social basis to generate food and nutrition for future generations are not compromised. This will deliver significant benefits for the Irish agri-food sector itself, for Irish society and the environment.

I am taking a very proactive approach to the crisis in Ukraine. We must protect our farm families and their businesses through this period of significant upheaval.

Food Prices

Questions (180)

Thomas Gould

Question:

180. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the role his Department is taking in preventing sharp increases in the cost of food both at production and point of sale. [16954/22]

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Written answers

The agri-food sector is facing one of the most significant challenges in recent years, arising from Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.

I am working with my Government colleagues as well as our EU partners to implement appropriate responses to those challenges. This includes ensuring that food security is maintained for EU citizens, for the Ukrainian people and in the wider global context.

At EU level, I have emphasised the importance of being ready to respond in a comprehensive and flexible manner, and to maintain functioning supply chains during what will be an uncertain and volatile period ahead. I have also highlighted concerns about the availability and price of animal feed and fertilisers. The comprehensive and transparent sharing of available information is also important.

On 23rd March, the EU Commission announced a range of supports to safeguard food security and reinforce the resilience of EU food systems. This included a support package of €500 million to support farmers most affected; this includes €15.8 million for Ireland. Other measures include safety net measures to support specific markets and a temporary Crisis Framework (TCF) for state aid.

In the Department, I have taken a number of steps both to support our agri-food sector.

On 7th March, I launched the opening of applications for and Exceptional Payment Scheme for the pig sector (PEPS), an exchequer funded scheme of €7 million to support commercial pig farmers in Ireland. Payments have started issuing to applicants.

On 22nd March, I announced a targeted intervention package for the tillage sector and a multi-species sward initiative, worth over €12 million, to support Irish farmers.

As well as these financial supports, I have put in place a Rapid Response Team, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, to actively monitor the impacts on agri-food supply chains and to contribute to the whole of Government response to this crisis.

I have established a National Fodder and Food Security Committee, tasked to prepare an industry response to the emerging crisis in feed, fodder, fertiliser and other inputs, and to develop contingency plans.

We continue to contribute to the whole of Government consideration and response to the Ukraine crisis. I am committed to supporting our farm families and their businesses through this challenging period.

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