Written Answers Nos. 557-568
557. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to a person (details supplied) who is receiving only one-quarter of their assigned hours of weekly homecare and requires specialised equipment immediately. [22362/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
558. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reconsider the fine for herd replacement for a person (details supplied) on the beef data and genomics programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21739/22]
View answerThe person named has a history of using all Artificial Insemination (AI) in his herd However, he had recorded a sire as 'unknown' in the records submitted as part of the 2021 scheme. As a result, a query was raised and the person named did not receive his Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) payment for 2021 as it was initially deemed the scheme requirements had not been met.
However, in light of information now received, the Department has re-examined the case and will now make arrangements regarding the 2021 payment. The person named will be informed of this decision in writing.
559. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his announcement of €9 million of funding from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund for Greencastle Breakwater, County Donegal is the same project that he announced funding for almost a year ago with a €9 million contribution from his Department. [21761/22]
View answerLast week I announced the approval of €31.7m in funding for 110 projects under the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure (BALAMI) Scheme 2022-2023. The scheme is being proposed for funding from the EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve and the main condition for reimbursement is that the costs incurred must be directly linked to countering the adverse effects of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.
The applications under the scheme are made by and prioritised by the relevant local authority. In that regard, Donegal County Council, rightly in my view, took the initiative to apply for funding for the Greencastle Breakwater project under the scheme. The Council did this knowing that I had already agreed that my Department would co-fund the project. Clearly the Council recognised the benefit of the Scheme in terms of a preferential rate of funding of up to 90% and also recognised the unique opportunity to put some of Ireland's allocation from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve into a directly relevant project for the benefit of the Irish seafood industry. I commend the Council for taking this initiative. I'm sure the Deputy is aware of the significant exposure for the seafood industry in Donegal to the impacts of Brexit.
In announcing the outcome of the first tranche of scheme applications I made it clear that this is the same Greencastle project that I had already agreed to support. The project will be the single largest beneficiary under the scheme and I am happy to consider it a flagship project for the Scheme in that regard.
560. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions that he is taking to deal with the backlog of the registration of horses with Horse Sport Ireland; the number of staff employed to carry out this process; the reason for the long delays being experienced by those phoning the agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21762/22]
View answerI have contacted Horse Sport Ireland and it has informed me that its Registrations Unit, has been augmented with a number of new team members joining in early 2022, with a further two additional staff starting in May.
This will bring the staff numbers to a total of 20, a significant increase on the prior year. There is a comprehensive training plan in place for all new staff members. I have been informed that the increased staff compliment together with earlier issuance of application forms and foal kits will ensure improved service levels throughout 2022.
HSI has also informed me there was a significant increase in telephone calls compared to the same period of last year. In early 2022 there were passport delays due to the DNA Lab normally used for animal DNA being used for Covid 19 sequencing.
I understand that whilst call answering metrics were lower than optimum in early 2022 there have been improvements in more recent weeks and this is expected to further improve with the backlog effectively cleared and additional trained staff answering calls for increased opening hours.
Finally, I have been informed that all foal passports where there are no queries have now been processed and sent out to the applicants within normal processing timelines, with 52% more passports created in the first four months of 2022 than the equivalent period for 2021.
There remains a substantial amount of passports that are held awaiting further information and clarifications from the applicants, however, I believe the team is now in the position to turn around applications without undue delay and continue to strive to provide the best service to the sport horse industry as a whole.
561. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when licences (details supplied) will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21843/22]
View answerMy Department received a request to approve a change of shareholders in respect of the licences referred to by the Deputy on 15 March 2022. This request is currently under consideration by my Department and is being processed in the normal way.
562. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 40 of 9 May 2019, the level of animal feedstuffs imported each year since 2018; the steps that have been taken to reduce the dependence of Ireland on imported genetically modified feeds; if he will quantify the success of these steps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21881/22]
View answerIreland, due to our high proportion of livestock production compared to tillage area, is very dependent on feed imports relative to other EU Member States.
The following table details imports of feed materials for the period 2018 to 2021:
|
Year |
Quantity (Tonnes) |
|
2018 |
5,056,534 |
|
2019 |
4,083,847 |
|
2020 |
4,255,654 |
|
2021 |
4,112,092 |
My Department provides valuable supports to the tillage sector by way of the Straw Incorporation Measure, Coupled Protein Aid, capital investment scheme for tillage farmers, the recently announced Tillage Incentive Scheme, and a high-quality official crop seed certification scheme and an extensive national crop variety evaluation programme, providing invaluable information to growers on the latest varieties available.
While there has been a decline in tillage area since 2012, the area has stabilised in recent years and in 2021 the cereal area increased by 3% or circa 9,000ha. Teagasc have provisionally estimated a further increase in 2022.
This level of increase will not achieve self-sufficiency in terms of animal feed due to the high protein requirements of our pig and poultry sector but the extra tonnage of grain will reduce our reliance on imports to some degree.
While there is some scope for more protein production in Southern and Eastern Europe, climatic conditions in Western and Northern EU Member States is not suited to growing large-scale quantities of suitable quality protein supplies, irrespective of whether they are from GM or non-GM crops. Improvements in crop breeding and availability of new varieties may change that to some extent in the future.
If all imports of feed materials were sourced as non-GM, this would incur a significant additional cost which would leave livestock production in Ireland at a competitive disadvantage compared to other countries that have the capacity to produce soya and other protein crops.
563. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the manner in which animal collection services are subvented; the amount expended on same by county in each of the years 2018 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22062/22]
View answerThe disposal of fallen animals is governed by EU Animal By-products (ABP) legislation.
My Department has provided funding for the collection and disposal of fallen animals since 2002 and following a review of the scheme in 2009, the Fallen Animals TSE Subsidy Scheme was introduced. This scheme provided funding for the disposal of over 48 month animals only which were subject to TSE testing prior to disposal. Following a further review in 2019, the scheme was expanded to include the disposal of under 48 month animals.
The Fallen Animals Scheme comprises two elements; the Fallen Animals TSE Subsidy Scheme for over 48 month fallen animals and the Fallen Farm Stock Subsidy Scheme for fallen farm animals under 48 months .
The Fallen Animal TSE Subsidy Scheme facilitates the collection and TSE testing of over 48 month fallen bovine animals as required under EU Regulations. The Department and farmer both contribute towards the collection cost, with the Department contributing €34.05 and the farmer €54.03 towards each over 48 month old bovine.
The Fallen Farm Stock Subsidy Scheme facilitates the collection and disposal of fallen bovines under 48 months (not subject to TSE testing), as well as sheep and goats in accordance with EU Animal By-products (ABP) legislation. My Department engages with the animal collectors association (ACA) on an on going basis to ensure the collection of fallen animals is carried out in compliance with this legislation. Under the scheme, the animal collector receives a subsidy towards the cost of disposal and, under the terms and conditions of the scheme, the animal collector must adhere to a maximum rate (cap), above which they may not charge the farmer for the collection of the fallen animals. The maximum collection rates which have been agreed by the farming bodies and the ACA are set out below:
Farmer collection contribution
|
Bovines |
+48 months |
€54.03 |
|
|
24-48 months |
€100 |
|
|
12-24 months |
€80 |
|
|
06-12 months |
€50 |
|
|
03-06 months |
€35 |
|
|
0-03 months |
€30 |
|
Sheep / Goats |
- |
€30 |
The table below provides detail of payments made to animal collectors under the Fallen Animal Scheme from 2018 to April 2022 :
|
2018 € |
2019 € |
2020 € |
2021 € |
2022 € |
|
2,408,191 |
2,207,880 |
4,599,004 |
4,334,439 |
1,520,417 |
To ensure individuals’ personal and commercially sensitive information remains confidential, a detailed breakdown of payments cannot be made available.
564. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the manner in which the subvention provided by his Department ensures the animal collection service provided by those in receipt of subvention meets local needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22063/22]
View answerThe importance of the animal collection service is well recognised by my Department, as it provides an essential service to the farming community and wider public.
The disposal of fallen animals is governed by EU Animal By-products (ABP) legislation, which requires that fallen farm stock such as bovines, sheep and goats (category 2 material) must be disposed of by waste incineration. Farmers must adhere to the Animal Welfare and Health Act 2013, which prohibits disposals other than by in accordance with Animal By-Product regulations.
My Department has provided funding for the collection and disposal of fallen animals since 2002 and, following a review of the scheme in 2009, the Fallen Animals TSE Subsidy Scheme was introduced. This scheme provided funding for the disposal of over 48 month animals only which were subject to TSE testing prior to disposal. Following a further review in 2019 the scheme was expanded to include the disposal of under 48 month animals. The Fallen Animals Scheme comprises two elements; the Fallen Animals TSE Subsidy Scheme for over 48 month fallen animals and the Fallen Farm Stock Subsidy Scheme for fallen farm animals under 48 months .
The Fallen Animal TSE Subsidy Scheme (Animal Collectors) facilitates the collection and TSE testing of over 48 month fallen bovine animals as required under EU Regulations. The Department and farmer both contribute towards the collection cost, with the Department contributing €34.05 and the farmer €54.03 towards each over 48 month bovine.
The Fallen Farm Stock Subsidy Scheme facilitates the collection and disposal of fallen bovines under 48 months (not subject to TSE testing), sheep and goats in accordance with EU Animal By-products (ABP) legislation. My Department engages with the animal collectors association (ACA) on an on-going basis to ensure the collection of fallen animals is carried out in compliance with this legislation. Under the scheme the animal collector receives a subsidy towards the cost of disposal of fallen animals and under the terms and conditions of the scheme, the animal collector must adhere to a maximum rate (cap) above which they may not charge the farmer for the collection of the fallen animals. The maximum collection rates which have been agreed by the farming bodies and ACA are set out below:
Farmer collection contribution
|
Bovines |
+48 months |
€54.03 |
|
|
24-48 months |
€100 |
|
|
12-24 months |
€80 |
|
|
06-12 months |
€50 |
|
|
03-06 months |
€35 |
|
|
00-03 months |
€30 |
|
Sheep / Goats |
- |
€30 |
565. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to any areas within the State in which a lack of drivers has resulted in no animal collection service being available; if so, his proposals to address such cases that may have arisen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22064/22]
View answerThe importance of the animal collection service is well recognised by the Department, as it provides an essential service to the farming community and wider public.
My Department is aware of some issues regarding the shortage of drivers and is engaged with the Animal Collectors Association (ACA) and also with the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment to try to resolve these issues.
566. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are plans to improve regulation of the trade of exotic animals; and if a positive list system has been considered as Belgium has implemented since 2001. [22121/22]
View answerIn line with the Programme for Government and the action identified in the the Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025 - Working Together for Animal Welfare, I have asked my officials to take the lead in establishing an inter-departmental group to ensure a coherent national approach to policy and regulation related to exotic animals.
Initial meetings of the group have taken place and the focus will be on regulating the keeping, breeding and trading of exotic animals. All aspects of these areas and models for best practice will be considered by the group in developing regulations.
567. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive their ANC payment; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22207/22]
View answerThe person named has submitted an application to the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme for each of the years 2015 - 2021 inclusive.
As set out in the annual terms and conditions of the scheme, participants in the scheme are required to hold a minimum of three hectares classified as an ANC area (no minimum area applies in the case of the Island Farming Scheme) and must also satisfy minimum livestock requirements to qualify for payment under the scheme.
According to Department records, the person named has not held any livestock for the years set out above and has therefore not satisfied the minimum stocking requirements to qualify for payment under the scheme for the ANC area submitted in their applications for each of these years.
I note that the person named has submitted an application to participate in the 2022 ANC scheme on 10th March 2022. As is the case in previous years, participants will be required to satisfy the minimum livestock requirements as set out in the 2022 scheme terms and conditions in order to qualify for payment under the scheme.
568. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of secondments from his Department to the university third level sector over the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22244/22]
View answerMy Department regularly reviews its staff 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 achieving a balance between facilitating temporary secondment opportunities while also retaining key expertise within my Department for ongoing responsibilities. These secondments can be within the state or overseas.
During the last two years, one officer from my Department has worked within a university/third level sector. This role was based in the Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis (CVERA), in University College Dublin, which provides scientific information to support national decision-making in animal health and welfare. CVERA oversees a diverse portfolio of projects in support of a number of areas within my Department and also assists Animal Health Ireland.
