Written Answers Nos. 1884-1903
1884. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the management of co-operation projects as part of the new CAP’s national agri-environmental climate measure has been tendered out; and if so, the body it has been tendered to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19913/22]
View answer1885. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that co-operation teams will be paid as part of the new CAP’s national agri-environmental climate measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19914/22]
View answer1886. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of co-operation teams; the total number of individuals who require to be employed in the management of co-operation projects as part of the new CAP national agri-environmental climate measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19915/22]
View answer1887. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of the level of fees which will be incurred by farmers for co-operation teams services as part of the new CAP’s national agri-environmental climate measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19916/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1884 to 1887, inclusive, together.
Farmers in all areas of the country will be able to participate in the proposed new agri-environment climate measure (AECM) under the next CAP Strategic Plan (CSP). The new AECM Scheme will have a General stream and a Co-operation stream. The Co-operation stream will be managed by new Co-operation Project Teams.
The map for the Co-operation stream of the new AECM scheme identifies eight Co-operation Zones. Farmers within these high priority geographical areas will be eligible to apply to join the AECM Co-operation stream.
Farmers in each of the Co-operation zones will engage in the Scheme with the assistance of their local Co-operation Project team. The Co-operation Project teams will not be charging farmers for their services. However, the farmers will also still be engaging with their own Agricultural Advisors, for which they will incur a fee. These farmers in turn will benefit from higher payment rates, up to a maximum €10,500 per year, should they participate and undertake the most environmentally ambitious actions.
A tender process for the establishment and management of the Co-operation Project was launched at the end of January 2022 and the period for submission of bids has now finished. The proposals received under the request for tenders are now being evaluated. As the whole tender process has not yet been finalised, the amount that the successful tenderers will be paid or the number of staff they will employ has not yet been determined. The evaluation of the tenders is due to be completed shortly and I am looking forward to receiving details of the successful tenders when the evaluation is finalised.
1888. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that a retest has been ordered to test for hoof wall separation disease by a society (details supplied); the body financing the retests; and if there was a breach in protocols procedure in testing at an organisation. [19930/22]
View answerI have contacted the Connemara Pony Breeders Society (CPBS) and they have informed me that they raised a query with the testing laboratory in relation to a foal, whose parentage was certified by private test as not carrying the HWSD gene. The same foal had been tested by the testing laboratory and found to be a carrier of the disease.
The testing laboratory informed the CPBS that given that the test is run in batches containing a number of ponies, that all samples from that batch should be retested for HWSD. The laboratory found that a number of test results were incorrect.
I am informed that the laboratory conducted a thorough review which revealed a software upgrade issue. I understand the matter has now been rectified by the laboratory.
A small number of passports were recalled by the society and the results rectified.
1889. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on PGI status for the beef sector; when this process is expected to conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19955/22]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that, In November 2020, the Department lodged the application for Irish Grass Fed Beef with the EU Commission. At that time, I wrote to the European Commission advising that Ireland would support an extension of this application to cover the island of Ireland when a grass-fed verification system is in place in Northern Ireland.
Since August 2020, my Department and Bord Bia teams and their Northern Ireland counterparts have engaged on an ongoing basis on the technical aspects of assisting NI to develop a verified grass fed standard and on matters related to the PGI specification.
In May 2021, the European Commission responded to our application with technical queries but also indicated that it would be possible for Northern Ireland to make a submission as part of the EU/third country ‘opposition procedure’ to request that the geographical area be extended to include the whole island of Ireland. The Commission has indicated that this process should be viewed as an ‘amicable procedure’.
On 8th December 2021, following the scrutiny of the application by the European Commission, the application for a PGI for “Irish Grass Fed Beef” was published by the Commission in the Official Journal of the European Union for the three month so called ‘opposition procedure’ which was open both to EU Member States and third countries to make submissions on the application. The opposition concluded on 8th March 2022.
My Department has been advised that a submission has been made by the UK to the EU during the opposition period.
The next stage is that my Department and Bord Bia will engage in consultations with their counterparts in Northern Ireland to discuss the submission made by the UK and taking into account the PGI regulatory requirements. The European Commission will be notified of the outcome of those consultations and at that stage we will be advised by the Commission on the next steps.
I am excited about seeing the Irish Grass Fed Beef PGI standard come to fruition as I believe it can benefit our farm families across the island.
1890. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider allowing a derogation on GLAS plans for 2022 in order that farmers are not constrained on land use and therefore limited when it comes to saving fodder this summer allowing them to free up land for fodder avoiding a possible fodder crisis next winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19956/22]
View answerThere are no plans at present for any derogation in respect of the GLAS specifications. Any such derogation would require the formal approval of the EU Commission. As always the position will continue to be closely monitored by my Department.
1891. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the pressure farmers are under with increasing energy costs especially approaching silage season; the steps he will take to support farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19957/22]
View answerSpecifically 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.
At farm level, the crisis is already impacting very significantly on the price of fertiliser, animal feed and fuel. Within my Department, I have established a Rapid Response Team 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.
There are sufficient supplies of fertiliser and animal feed at present although price remains a concern. The Government have introduced a temporary reduction in excise duty on fuels, assistance on the price of electricity & gas, and a targeted and temporary grant scheme for hauliers, all of which will be of some assistance to farmers and the agri-food sector.
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.
Following recent discussions at EU level, including extensive engagement by EU Agriculture Ministers, 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. This includes an exceptional aid package to support impacted farming sectors, and I announced on 13th April that Ireland's allocation of €15.8 million in exceptional EU funding would be deployed to support the pig and horticulture sectors.
I continue to engage with all our stakeholders and continue to work across Government, and with our European partners, to respond to this crisis, using all of the tools at our disposal. 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.
1892. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit facilitate internships by students engaged in full-time or part-time further and higher education courses; if so, the number of interns his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit accept annually; if any or all of these interns receive remuneration of any kind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20000/22]
View answerMy Department currently has in place a total of 24 remunerated student interns within the organisation. The majority are placed in IT business areas (these students are undertaking IT degree courses), with the remainder, who are studying courses relevant to their assignments, assigned to administrative, laboratory and technical Divisions. The Department has also received sanction to engage 10 veterinary students and 13 agricultural students for professional work experience placements, and is liaising with educational institutions on their placement. These interns are remunerated on the Clerical Officer grade pay scale in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform sanctions for such placements. The Department also has three unpaid student interns in place, who are working on projects within our Laboratory Divisions.
The question of internship programmes in the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational issue, and I will ask the Agencies to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
1893. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 248 of 9 March 2022, if progress has been made in furthering a compensation scheme for farmers impacted by the flooding in County Wexford on 25 December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20042/22]
View answerI understand that the damage caused to farm land in the south Wexford region as a result of the flooding that was experienced on Christmas Day has been localised.
As the Deputy is aware, the flooding created significant local challenging conditions, in particular, to local road networks, land and farms adjacent to rivers. Water levels receded considerably since the flooding occurred on Christmas Day lessening the effect on crops and I understand that the majority of crops recovered well.
However, there are farmers still affected and I understand their concerns. We are monitoring this situation very closely and my Department is in conversation with Teagasc in the area on the matter.
1894. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons currently employed in his Department who have been seconded in from the public sector; the number of Departmental officials seconded where the monies are recouped from the body the person is seconded to or where the Department pays for the person with no recoupment from the other organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20055/22]
View answerMy Department regularly reviews its staffing assignments to ensure that our resources are being used to support our work in the most effective and strategic manner possible. In this regard, consideration is given to facilitating temporary secondment opportunities to support our internal workforce, providing current Department staff with an opportunity to benefit from the expertise and knowledge transfer from colleagues seconded into my Department on a temporary basis. Currently, there are a total of nine officers seconded into my Department. All of these officers are paid for by my Department.
Similarly, consideration is given to achieving a balance between facilitating temporary secondment opportunities for existing Department staff while also retaining key expertise within my Department for ongoing responsibilities. These secondments can be within the state or overseas. At present, my Department has a total of 28 officers on secondments including through the EU’s Seconded National Experts programme. Of the 28 arrangements, nine continue to be paid by the Department while a further eight officers operate under a "Pay and Recoup" system. In these instances, the roles undertaken are considered to provide employees with skills and experiences which have potential to benefit the Department. Eleven officers are paid directly by their seconded Departments.
1895. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will request that a club (details supplied) provide him with a breakdown of the 2,185 litters whelped, in 2021, into racing and coursing dogs; if he will request the club the reason that it will not provide a breakdown between the numbers of coursing and racing greyhounds born for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20106/22]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership primarily of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
The new greyhound traceability system, Rásaíocht Con Éireann Traceability System (RCÉTS) and its contribution to the integrity of the industry forms part of RCÉ's full package of welfare measures. Racing greyhound traceability, which is separate and distinct from the IGSB, is now available through the RCÉ traceability system.
The ICC has informed my Department that during the period 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021 there were 2185 litters whelped with 6950 dogs and 7028 bitches registered. Following a manual check, a total of 224 litters are considered coursing for 2021, which resulted in 736 dogs and 759 bitches.
The ICC is finalising traceability for coursing greyhounds, and much of the IT work is complete. The system is expected to be operational by quarter three, ahead of the start of the coursing season in 2022/23.
1896. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider removing the cap that was in place which was potentially €100 per acre and ensuring that it would not be reduced below that amount which would help persons who would have straw to supply in what would be an over supplied market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20119/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware in 2021 the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) was introduced in 2021 as a pilot measure. I am delighted to see that there was a high level of interest in the Measure with over €8 million paid out to farmers on approximately 35,000ha of straw that was chopped and incorporated. Given the surplus stocks of straw currently available from last year's harvest and the very high price of fertiliser I expect that demand for the scheme will be strong in 2022.
I can also confirm that there will be no change to the rates payable or list of eligible crops under the scheme in 2022. The payment rate is €250/ha for cereal straw from barley, wheat, oats and rye and €150/ha for oilseed rape straw.
1897. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1156 of 22 March 2022, the account that is made for inshore fishing in calculating bass stocks and resultant quotas. [20129/22]
View answer1898. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1156 of 22 March 2022, the common European approaches that are protecting bass stocks; and if Ireland is aligned with these practices. [20130/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1897 and 1898 together.
Ireland has been to the forefront in protecting the vulnerable Sea Bass stock for many years with a complete prohibition on commercial fishing by Irish fishing vessels in place since 1990, along with restrictions on recreational fisheries. These regulations were introduced as a result of, and to redress what was acknowledged as, a dramatic decline of Sea Bass stocks in the 1970's. This decline, together with the relatively late spawning age of Sea Bass found in waters around Ireland, meant that future bass stocks in these waters were in jeopardy.
Following advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) that the Sea Bass stock was in rapid decline, in 2015 the European Commission introduced temporary emergency measures to protect Sea Bass during the highly sensitive spawning season between January and 30th April.
Later that year, the Council adopted more long-term measures to reduce the impact of recreational fisheries and reduce catches by commercial fisheries. The latter was provided for by Council Regulation (EU) 2015/960, which also brought EU legislation into line with Irish legislation by extending the prohibition on commercial fishing to all Union vessels operating in ICES areas 7a, b, c, g, j and k. These areas encompass the Irish sea and the waters off Ireland's west, south and south-west coasts.
The measures in relation to Sea Bass are set out in the annual Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and Quota Regulation. However, it should be noted that there are no quotas for Sea Bass. The current measures provide, inter alia, that Union fishing vessels are prohibited from fishing for Sea Bass in the waters around Ireland. For recreational fisheries, in area 7, only catch and release fisheries are allowed in January, February and December and a bag limit of two fish per fisher per day from 1st March to 30th November.
1899. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding SI. No. 605 of 2017 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20135/22]
View answerStatutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 605 of 2017, set out that the "occupier" in relation to a holding "includes the owner, a lessee, any person entitled to occupy the holding or any other person having for the time being control of the holding.’ The S.I. also set out that "holding" means "an agricultural production unit, and in relation to an occupier, means all the agricultural production units managed by that occupier."
It should be noted that S.I. No. 605 of 2017 has been revoked and replaced by S.I. No. 113 of 2022,
It is the general duty of the occupier of a holding to ensure compliance, in relation to that holding, with the provisions of the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations.
If the Deputy has a specific case in mind, my Department will examine this matter further, once the relevant details are made available. Such details should be sent in the first instance by email to nitrates@agriculture.gov.ie.
1900. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that the western-most tip of the Dingle Peninsula has been excluded from the new agri-environment and climate measure (details supplied); if the matter will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20184/22]
View answer1920. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20720/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1900 and 1920 together.
Ireland's draft CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023 – 2027, which lists the range of interventions currently being proposed, was submitted to the EU Commission on 31st December 2021, with their observations thereon recently received. One of the interventions proposed in Ireland’s draft CSP is an agri-environment climate measure (AECM). €1.5 billion has been allocated to this flagship agri-environment scheme which will be the successor to the Green Low Carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS) which was available under Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.
It is proposed that the exciting national agri-environmental climate measure will consist of two approaches, namely:
- An AECM General, available nationally (outside of the high priority geographical area as defined for the AECM Co-operation Project approach below), which offers a range of measures (both targeted and general); and
- An AECM Co-operation Project, available to farmers in defined high priority geographical areas. If a farmer in one of these areas volunteers to participate, they may undertake bespoke farm, landscape and catchment measures, as well as being able to undertake actions from the AECM General suite of actions. Farmers participating in this approach can avail of the assistance of a Local Cooperation Project (CP) Team, who will assist with the implementation of the scheme at local level.
With reference to the specific question, I reassure the Deputy that, as was the case in GLAS, all farmers, who apply for the Basic Payment Scheme, will have access to the new AECM. No area has been excluded. The purpose of the map, which shows the western most tip of the Dingle Peninsula in white, was to give an indication of the defined high priority geographical areas that would fall within the AECM Co-operation Project approach.
That map, accessible at www.gov.ie/en/publication/76026-common-agricultural-policy-cap-post-2020/ , is colour-coded to show the eight areas in the country that have been identified as having particular environmental characteristics, where farmers may engage in the new AECM through the cooperation project teams. Farmers in the rest of the country, shown in white on the map, may apply to participate in the AECM General, where they may choose from a range of environmental actions.
1901. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the special measures his Department is taking to reduce energy usage in the scenario in which members of the public are being asked to do the same. [20290/22]
View answerMy Department is committed to embedding energy efficiency into the culture of the organisation and continually progresses energy management initiatives across its locations. It issues a quarterly Environmental/Sustainability Newsletters to all staff, has provided an awareness poster of Fuel Saving Tips to the Departments van drivers and is an active participant in the Office of Public Works (OPW) Optimising Power @ Work campaigns.
In order to drive sustainable practices on a local basis, my Department has also established a network of Green Teams throughout its own nationwide network of offices. The Green Teams consists of volunteer representatives at all grades who serve as green champions throughout the various locations. The Green Team's goals are to raise awareness and implement practices locally which reduce my Department’s energy and environmental footprint and support biodiversity projects.
In addition, my Department is actively participating in the Public Sector Energy Reporting Programme reporting all of its energy consumption through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's (SEAI) Monitoring and Reporting online system. Since 2009, energy efficiency has improved by almost 34.1% in the Department, avoiding consumption of 22.4M kWh of energy. This has been achieved mainly by low-cost measures such as behavioural changes, better energy management, and lighting retrofits. In order to achieve continuous energy efficiency, additional works will be required throughout the Department to reach its 2030 and 2050 targets.
1902. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the landing days and hours for UK and North of Ireland registered fishing vessels landing in designated piers and harbours in this State; and if his attention has been drawn to the danger to small-scale fishermen in particular from limited days and times for landing fish that may force them to fish in poor weather conditions. [20310/22]
View answerI am currently considering the designation of further ports for landings by UK vessels registered in Northern Ireland and I have asked the SFPA to examine the possibility of extended opening hours where feasible. The current ports designated and the opening days and times for those ports were decided to allow for Northern Ireland registered vessels to continue to land into Irish ports, while ensuring that the SFPA has the capacity to continue to perform its vital control functions effectively.
I would also like to assure the Deputy that the designation of ports for landings does not preclude vessels from coming into ports for force majeure reasons such as safe harbour.
1903. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the up-to-date-position in respect of a report (details supplied) on the Irish horticulture industry to assess the current state of the horticulture industry in Ireland across various sectors including field crops, protected crops and soft fruits and which provides recommendations on a roadmap for the future of the sector which is due to be completed by April 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20352/22]
View answerMy colleague Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has responsibility for the sector, commissioned a report on growth opportunities in the horticulture sector. The report will form the basis of a road map for the sector outlining the support and approach required to take advantage of these opportunities. The report’s outputs will sit within our new 10-year strategy for the agri-food sector – Food Vision 2030.
The report on the horticulture sector being prepared by KPMG is in progress and Minister Hackett will shortly be receiving a draft of the report. Since the report was commissioned in October 2021 however, there has been significant change and that change will need to be reflected on in advance of the report being finalised.
The report will be completed and released in due course.
