Written Answers Nos. 2098-2113
2098. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if plans are in place for his Department to carry out inspections of dog breeding establishments when local authority veterinary services are transferred to his Department. [40806/22]
View answerWhile discussions are ongoing, no decision has been taken as what aspects, if any, of the local authority veterinary services may transfer to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
2099. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of racing greyhounds rehomed from January 2021 to date; and if he will provide a breakdown of brood bitches, stud dogs, racing greyhounds and pups under 14 months old, including named and unnamed greyhounds. [40854/22]
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 question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
2100. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reasons that an Irish greyhound (details supplied) which last raced at Shelbourne greyhound track on 31 August 2021 appears to be currently racing in Punjab, India and is still listed on Greyhound Racing Ireland’s website as registered to a syndicate in County Wicklow, Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40855/22]
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 question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
2101. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the responsibilities of his Department in relation to the regulation of the greyhound racing industry given the fact that greyhounds are recognised in legislation as agricultural animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40856/22]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 chiefly to control and regulate 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.
Governance of this State body falls under the remit of the Department for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and is underpinned by legislation and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016. Governance include regular liaison between officials of this Department and RCÉ.
This Department provides dedicated financial support under the Horse and Greyhound Fund (the Fund) to RCÉ with 10% of the RCÉ allocation from the Fund ringfenced for welfare measures, including integrity. In addition, the Greyhound Racing Act 2019 develops the legislative basis for the industry, strengthening the integrity and welfare of the industry.
2102. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the welfare standards referenced in the Programme for Government from which future funding of the greyhound sector from the Horse and Greyhound Fund was said to be contingent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40857/22]
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 future of the industry is dependent on a strong governance platform and on the industry having the highest standards of integrity and welfare founded on a strong regulatory system. There is a strong commitment to improved animal welfare in this sector in the Programme for Government.
Animal welfare is central to this Department’s engagements with the greyhound sector and funding to Rásaíocht Con Éireann is contingent on animal welfare measures being implemented. Since 2021, this Department has ring fenced 10% of the RCÉ allocation from the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund for welfare measures including integrity.
The new RCÉ Traceability System (RCÉTS), which is included as an action in Ireland's Welfare Strategy 2021-2025, is now operational and provides traceability for all microchipped racing greyhounds from 1st January 2021.
Ongoing implementation and development of the Rásaíocht Con Éireann Traceability System (RCÉTS) for racing greyhounds allows the whereabouts of a racing greyhound to be monitored by RCÉ.
This Department is committed to the continued strengthening of welfare standards in the greyhound industry, within the context of Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025. Funding of the sector is contingent on welfare standards being upheld and this is reflected in annual parameters set out by my officials in their liaison with RCÉ.
2103. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhound schooling tracks in Ireland; if Greyhound Racing Ireland has jurisdiction over all these greyhound schooling tracks; the entity in charge of regulations and inspections in relation to greyhound welfare and the prevention of live baiting at these locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40858/22]
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 question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
2104. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date by Greyhound Racing Ireland in achieving Pillar 2 of Irish Greyhound Board Strategic Plan 2018-2022, as opposed to a breeding centric model given that greyhound breeding statistics for 2018 were 14,064 pups and breeding statistics for 2021 were 13,978 pups, a reduction of only 86 pups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40859/22]
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 question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
2105. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date in creating a racing stud book for Irish racing greyhounds, as per the objective set out in the Irish Greyhound Board Strategic Plan 2022-2028; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40860/22]
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 RCÉ Strategic Plan 2018 to 2022 contains a medium term objective for the creation of a stud book for racing greyhounds. Current legislation provides for the Irish Coursing Club to be the Keeper of the Irish Stud Book for all greyhounds. The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) has been the keeper for the Irish Greyhound Stud Book since 1923 and this remains the current situation.
2106. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide any reports or recommendations or assessments made by New Economy and Recovery Authority in relation to Greyhound Racing Ireland following his request for its involvement with the semi-State body in late 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40861/22]
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.
In August 2020, New Economy and Recovery Authority (NewERA) was requested by this Department to consider some areas of the greyhound industry. The arising report is commercially sensitive and confidential and is provided for the information and assistance of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
However, RCÉ is developing a new strategic Plan based in part on some of its recommendations.
2107. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a report (details supplied) prepared for Greyhound Racing Ireland dated July 2021 given that there is no reference to greyhound exports from Ireland even though the Chairman of GRI publicly stated in evidence to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture on 9 July 2019 that without the export of dogs, the industry would not be financially viable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40862/22]
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 question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
2110. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he considers 30 days to be a reasonable timeframe for the public to prepare and participate effectively during the environmental decision-making process as required under Article 6 (3) of the Aarhus Convention where such a large number of applications have been made by a single public authority on the same day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40865/22]
View answerThe UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) was adopted on 25th June 1998 in the Danish city of Aarhus. The Convention originates in the 1992 Rio Declaration, specifically Principle 10 on the Environment. Principle 10 sets out three fundamental rights: access to information, access to public participation and access to justice, as key pillars of sound environmental governance.
Ireland ratified the Aarhus Convention and the associated Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Amendment and the Pollutant Release Transfer Register (PRTR) Protocol in June 2012. Policy issues arising, including the adequacy of 30 days for public consultation, are a matter for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
2111. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that a farmer (details supplied) is not entitled to the €1,000 fodder grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40866/22]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that on 15th June 2022, I launched a €56 million nationwide Fodder Support Scheme which aims to incentivise farmers, in particular drystock farmers, to grow more fodder (silage and/or hay) for the coming winter and next spring.
The payment rate will be up to €100 per hectare, up to a maximum of 10 hectares with the maximum potential payment of up to €1,000.
The Fodder Support Scheme opened on the 17th June 2022 to farmers who meet all the eligibility criteria set out in the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme.
One of the conditions which must be met in order to be eligible for the Scheme is that a farmer must have submitted a valid 2022 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application before 8th July 2022 and they must have eligible grassland declared on their 2022 BPS application.
My Department's records show that the herd owner named has not submitted a valid BPS application for 2022 under the herd number supplied and therefore is not eligible to apply for the Fodder Support Scheme.
2112. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions and engagements that his Department has taken to date to reduce carbon emissions and to increase energy efficiency in all buildings under his Department. [40905/22]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has embedded energy efficiency into the culture of the organisation and continually progresses energy management initiatives across its locations.
As set out in the Public Service Energy Efficiency Strategy 2017, a staff member at senior management level (Assistant Secretary) has been appointed as the Energy Performance Officer (EPO) to lead and drive energy efficiency and sustainability throughout my Department and in partnership with the agencies that fall under the aegis of my Department.
DAFM's commitment to sustainability within its facilities has further led to the appointment of a full-time Green Governance team, who, with the expertise, support and training from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) partnership programme and the Office of Public Works (OPW) Optimising Power @ Work programme, identify and promote sustainable practices throughout all our locations; including offices, laboratories, farms and fishery harbours. It issues a quarterly Environmental/Sustainability Newsletters to all staff and has provided an awareness poster of Fuel Saving Tips to the Department's van drivers.
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 consist 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.
My Department actively participates 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 my Department, avoiding consumption of 22.4M kWh of energy. This has been achieved mainly by measures such as behavioural changes by staff, better energy management by Services Division and lighting and heating retrofits.
To advance the decarbonisation agenda, my Department has engaged with the Office of Public Works to provide Electric Vehicle charging points to staff. EV charging points are available to staff at the Department's campus in Backweston, Co. Kildare. There are also EV charging points installed in my Department’s facilities in Dublin Port, Longtown Farm, Co. Kildare and Agriculture House, Dublin 2 which will be operational in the coming months. My Department will continue to engage with the Office of Public Works for further Electric Vehicle charging points to be provided for staff in additional locations.
2113. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all farmers on offshore islands are eligible for the agri-climate rural environment scheme; the stream that they should apply to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40948/22]
View answerThe new agri-environment climate scheme, to be known as the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (‘ACRES’), is currently with the EU Commission for approval as part of Ireland’s draft CAP Strategic Plan. Some €1.5 billion in funding has also been committed to the proposed scheme over the lifetime of the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Details of the draft scheme were announced on 21st June 2022 to facilitate preparatory work by advisors.
As announced, there will be two entry approaches in the proposed new scheme namely:
- An ACRES General approach, available nationally (outside of the high priority geographical area as defined for the ACRES Co-operation approach), which offers a range of measures (both targeted and general); and
- An ACRES Co-operation approach, available to farmers in defined high priority geographical areas. Eight areas in the country have been defined by a cross departmental working group as having particular environmental characteristics and farmers in those areas may engage in the new ACRES through cooperation project teams, which have appointed.
With reference to the specific question, I wish to reassure you that, as was the case in the Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (‘GLAS’), all farmers, who apply for the Basic Payment Scheme, will have access to the proposed new Scheme. No area has been excluded. Farmers will be able to identify the ACRES approach for which they are eligible by logging on to my Department’s online system (AgFood) or by sending a SMS to 50124 with the text “DAFM ACRES” followed by their Herd ID.
