Written Answers Nos. 575-596
575. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current number of live studies, reviews and research projects undertaken or commissioned by his Department in tabular form; and the date by which each study, review and research is scheduled to be completed. [45957/22]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. I will survey the Department and the collated replies will be prepared into a full response to the Deputy as soon as possible.
576. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the hiring of a personal assistant for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45975/22]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
577. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason that a child (details supplied) remains waiting for a diabetic pump; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46004/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
578. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are waiting for ophthalmology treatment by county as of 15 September 2022, in tabular form. [46005/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
579. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the necessary preparatory work including planning and design will be progressed, without delay, in relation to the provision of much-needed facilities at a health care centre (details supplied) in view of the present inadequate accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46039/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter which relates to planning that must take place within the Health Service Executive before it is submitted to my Department for funding, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
580. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied) who was referred by the paediatric unit at University Hospital Limerick for assessment to a medical team and has been advised that they will be waiting 24 months for an assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46051/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
581. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if further supports for future capital investments on farms will be made available to the horse industry in Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45811/22]
View answerThere is a wide variety of items available under the suite of seven measures under TAMS II. Grant aid is currently available for horse stocks under the Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme and the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme.
It is proposed that support for equine investments will be made available under the new Capital Investment Scheme as part of the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP).
Submissions relating to suggested investments and grant aid have been accepted from all interested parties. My Department has carefully considered all submissions relating to grant-aided investments and the investment list is currently being finalised.
Changes to the support for capital investments including those for equines are subject to a Rural Development Plan amendment and Commission approval.
582. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that he will not impose any impositions or proposals to ban ploughing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45413/22]
View answerFrom 2023 Ireland's new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) will come into effect. There are minimum standards that farmers must meet under Conditionality, which is part of the legislative requirements and minimum standards of the new CAP.
Conditionality includes the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) standards. One of them, known as GAEC 2, deals with the protection of carbon rich soils, and this requires protection of wetland and peatland to be implemented within each Member State. Ireland has indicated that this standard will apply from 2024.
Large quantities of carbon are stored in peatlands and wetlands, and certain agricultural practices (e.g. ploughing) may have a negative impact on such soils with regard to carbon storage. The minimum standards established for management under this GAEC will be aimed at minimising carbon loss from such soils.
Production of high-quality grass is without doubt an integral part of Irish agriculture and reseeding has a role to play in that. However, it is important to note that while protection of carbon rich soils may include restrictions on ploughing, it does not preclude less invasive methods of reseeding being carried out.
Ireland is now working in conjunction with the technical experts in the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre to identify the relevant lands.
At this point no final decision has been taken on what the appropriate minimum standards will be. Updates to the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), for this GAEC standard, will be discussed with the relevant stakeholders once more information is available. No decision has been made.
583. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a tax exemption will be given to farmers who opt to cut their suckler cow numbers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45424/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I established the Food Vision Beef and Sheep Group in June of this year. This Group has been established to advance the actions for the beef and sheep sector identified in the Food Vision 2030 strategy, taking account of the requirement for the sectors to contribute to achieving the targets set for the agriculture and land use sector in the Climate Action Plan 2021.
The Group's first priority is to fulfil the Food Vision commitment to 'produce a detailed plan to manage the sustainable environmental footprint of the beef sector, including minimising total emissions, while making a positive contribution to improved water quality and biodiversity, in line with Government policy. I have tasked the Group with providing an interim report to me as soon as possible, with a final plan to be submitted by the end of November.
The Group will then move on to progressing the other important actions for the beef and sheep sectors set out in the Food Vision 2030 strategy.
It should be clarified however that the work of the Group is currently in the initial drafting stage, and that all potential measures presented in Group meetings to date remain the subject of discussion. No measures have been agreed by the Group as yet.
I will give full consideration to the proposals made by the Group when they report to me. My ultimate aim is to protect and future proof the beef and suckler sector because I want to see it flourish into the future.
584. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the expenditure by the forest service of his Department is in line with budget for the months of July and August 2022, thereby ensuring that there is no underspend again in this Department for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45438/22]
View answer586. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure by the forest service of his Department for the months of July and August 2022 versus July and August 2021 and to date in 2022, to enable comparison in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45440/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 584 and 586 together.
Expenditure by the Forest Service, DAFM - the months of July and August 2022 versus July and August 2021; and to date in 2022.
|
- |
July |
August |
Jan to 13 Sept |
|
2021 |
€2,268,645 |
€2,721,602 |
€61,952,319 |
|
2022 |
€2,309,883 |
€3,244,764 |
€62,111,947 |
The spending in July and August this year, and the overall year to date expenditure is in excess of last year and, the spend for 2022 exceeds the profiled amount of €60,641,730. The remainder of the forestry budget has been apportioned to meet anticipated budgetary needs during the year and will be closely monitored.
585. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of the actual applications versus the phased projected monthly plan for licence and scheme applications in his Department’s plan for Coillte felling, private felling, roads, afforestation, and ash dieback RUS for the months of July and August 2022 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45439/22]
View answerThere is an overall significant increase on all licensing categories year to date compared with last year. Up to 9th September, we have issued 3,355 licences, just behind the projected average of 3,636, In fact, in the last 12 months from Sept 2021 to the end of August, DAFM have delivered 5,100 licences
Afforestation figures are 64% of year to date target. However July and August have shown significant signs of improvement as a result of the new ecologists starting to issue licences. We are embarking on an intensive effort over the last few weeks and next few weeks to prioritise afforestation with an aim of clearing older files ahead of the new forestry programme.
As regards RUS while we committed in our Licensing Plan to increasing output this year, the Plan does not include an annual target as many RUS applications are screened in for Appropriate Assessment and are referred to ecology. There are 521 applications currently in the system, of which 257 are referred to Ecology. Any applications that propose replacing the ash crop with conifer species currently require planning permission.
We have had successful engagement with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to this requirement for planning permission. From those discussions we expect that legislation to remove the requirement for planning permission in all cases under 10 hectares will be introduced after the Summer recess.
I attach a table outlining output vs target in each of the licensing categories.
Coillte Licence Applications Jan - Sept 2022
In the interest of full transparency details of all licences issued by category are available on the weekly dashboard. This is published on the Departmental website and is made available to all interested parties as well as being submitted to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine each week.
587. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Forest Service of his Department is on track to deliver on the commitment in the Forestry Licencing Plan 2022 to approve 350 applications for reconstitution of woodland scheme – frost damage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45555/22]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) launched a Reconstitution of Woodland scheme to address frost damage earlier this year. The scheme was set up due to significant late spring frost events which took place during May 2019, May 2020, and May 2021. The scheme was established to reconstitute newly planted forests significantly damaged by these frost events and replacing dead trees with plants of acceptable quality, provenances and species. It is also to provide for remedial pruning of damaged crops where damage is significant but not severe enough to warrant full replacement of stems.
The scheme was open to private forest owners who planted during the period between 1st November 2017 and 1st June 2021 and whose entire plantations sustained a minimum of 30% losses were eligible to apply under the Scheme. The scheme was open for applications from Wednesday, January 19th, 2022 with a closing date for applications of Tuesday 31st May , 2022.
DAFM is currently processing all applications received.
Full scheme details are available on www.gov.ie/en/collection/73aea-schemes-and-services-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/#forestry.
588. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost for the ecological input into each file processed through the ecology unit of the Forest Service of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45556/22]
View answerSince the middle of 2019, ecologists have been required to play a significantly larger role in licensing than previously was the case. This is as a result of the Departments implementation of the findings of CJEU and High Court cases in relation to how projects are required to be processed.
By 2021, the Department had increased significantly the ecology resources. By the end of last year, over 4,050 licence approvals in addition to a small number of non-licence scheme approvals had been processed during the year most of which required ecology input. Ecologists are involved in many different roles but are mostly dealing with licence and scheme approvals.
While there is a wide variation in the effort required for each file it is estimated that the average ecology cost per file for ecology input is around €650 to €700 euros in 2021.
So far this year there is an overall significant increase on all licensing categories year to date compared with last year. (2021 average 78 licences per week, 2022 so far 92 licences per week)
At the start of the year we set a target of 5,250 licences for 2022. Currently, judging by the year to date figures we are set to hit about 92% of that overall target.
In the last 12 months from Sept 2021, DAFM have delivered 5,100 licences
In terms of felling, between what was licensed last year and this year there is a very large supply of timber available to be felled. It has also been a very good year for forest road licensing.
The quality of the information supplied for felling and roading is very good, generally with good quality harvest plans and road specifications.
Afforestation figures are 64% of year to date target. However July and August and to date in September have shown significant signs of improvement as a result of the new contract ecologists starting to issue licences. We are embarking on an intensive effort over the last few weeks and next few weeks to prioritise afforestation with an aim of clearing all older files by year end ahead of the new forestry programme.
Year to date, an average of only 8 afforestation applications (291 total) have been received per week compared with an average of 13 licensed approvals per week (474 total). As we get through the last few hundred older files on hand, we will increasingly be relying on a significant increase of new files to drive the output of licences.
589. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if brash harvesting is permitted under the standards for felling and reforestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45557/22]
View answerLop-and-top or brash are terms given to the side branches and tops of trees that are normally cut from the main stem and left on site during harvesting operations. There is no licence requirement if a landowner wishes to remove some of this material from a site.
The Department's 'Standards for Felling and Reforestation' specifies the use of brash in creating and maintaining dense mats of brash and branch wood on all machine routes, to avoid soil damage, erosion and sedimentation. Brash mats are typically concentrated on primary routes and in the junction of extraction paths and landing sites.
Removing lop on top or brash from site is not described in the Standards for felling and reforestation. I Like any non-licensed activities it is important that it is done in such a way that it does not interfere with the licence conditions being met. I understand lop and top or brash is sometimes removed from sites and used as a biomass for wood fuel. This should only be done on certain sites where the operation will not have any adverse effects on water quality.
590. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that he is taking to increase the percentage of electric or hybrid vehicles owned by his Department and state agencies and bodies under the Department’s remit. [45573/22]
View answerI advise the Deputy that the procurement of vehicles for use by my Department is undertaken in accordance with the relevant public procurement guidelines and my Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and with due regard to the European Communities (Clean and Energy Efficient Road Transport Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2021, S.I no 38 of 2021. My Department avails of the centralised frameworks put in place by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) for the supply of electric vehicles.
The Public Sector Climate Action Mandate requires public sector bodies to show leadership in climate action by taking specific actions, including the requirement to purchase only zero-emission vehicles where available and operationally feasible from the end of 2022, enabling Ireland to go beyond the requirements of the Clean Vehicle Directive.
In support of the Clean and Efficient Energy measures, all viable options for electric vehicle alternatives are explored first and foremost and resort to non-electric is only considered if this is the only viable alternative. My Department owns a range of vehicles, including specialised agricultural vehicles for which there are currently no alternative electric or hybrid equivalents available. In the future, when procuring vehicles for my Department’s owned and managed farms, appropriate attention will be given to electric and/or hybrid vehicles when they become available for commercial and agricultural purposes. Over the last year, my Department has purchased a number of electric vehicles for use at its Fishery Harbour Centres.
As regards the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
591. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that he is taking to ensure that there is sufficient supply of fertiliser available within the State for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45652/22]
View answerWhilst fertiliser imports are a commercial matter, my Department continues to actively engage with the fertiliser industry on supply of fertiliser for 2023.
There are sufficient stocks of fertiliser at present but there are concerns around the cost and availability of fertiliser for 2023. Industry has indicated that trade in fertilisers has slowed as the future trading environment remains very uncertain. The price of fertiliser remains significantly up on last year and there is no sign of fertiliser prices easing in the short to medium term as prices are being driven by a number of factors including global demand, energy prices and availability.
I have raised concerns in relation to the impact of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine on supply chains. In particular, I underlined the need to maintain supply chains and to ensure an effective and functioning Single Market. I asked the EU Commission, as part of its work on monitoring markets, to keep a very close eye on the issue of fertiliser availability across the EU and to be ready to consider any measures that may help to alleviate the difficulties caused.
My Department through the Climate Action Plan, the Nitrates Action Plan, the CAP Strategic Plan and other policy interventions is seeking to help farmers strategically reduce their dependence on chemical fertiliser and reduce emissions from fertiliser use. This is something that is being done in consultation with farm organisations and will take place over a number of years.
My Department will continue to actively engage with the fertiliser industry on this issue over the period ahead.
592. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the qualifications that a National Parks and Wildlife Service inspector has; if a vet with experience attends the inspections at Dublin Zoo; and if it has been considered that there should be a multidisciplinary team inspecting if there is such a range of animals (details supplied). [45669/22]
View answerThe National Parks and Wildlife Service is responsible for zoo inspections (under the 2003 Zoo Licensing Regulations). Any queries regarding the qualifications of the Inspector engaged by that organisation is a matter for National Parks and Wildlife and should be addressed to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
593. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the National Parks and Wildlife Service attended an inspection at Dublin Zoo with an authorised officer under the Animal Welfare and Health Act 2013 and request them to issue a welfare notice at any stage since the Act was enacted in 2014 (details supplied). [45670/22]
View answerThe National Parks and Wildlife Service is responsible for zoo inspections (under the 2003 Zoo Licensing Regulations).
Veterinary inspectors from my Department have not attended an inspection at Dublin Zoo and accordingly have not been requested to issue any welfare notice under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013.
594. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to introduce an e-passport for the identification of equines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45816/22]
View answerArticle 20(2) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/963 provides that Member States may authorise the use e-passports for the purpose of the identification of equine animals during day-to-day movements within their own territories, to other member States in particular circumstances and to third countries which have authorised such identification.
An e-passport may be used to supplement the associated physical equine identification document but cannot replace it. The paper identification document remains the definitive mechanism for identifying an equine animal. The identification data recorded on the e-passport must be the same as that recorded on the paper passport - and both sets of data must be up-to date at all times
It is my intention to authorise the use of e-passports in accordance with the provisions of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/962. In this regard, officials in my Department are currently drafting an official standard for e-passports which it is proposed to circulate to approved Passport Issuing Organisations in the coming weeks.
595. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that financial support will be given to Horse Sport Ireland for the integrity programme and the National Equine Anti-Doping Programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45820/22]
View answer596. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider increasing the amount of funding available for breeding and production supports for Horse Sport Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45847/22]
View answer597. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding will be increased from the expected €850,000 in 2022 to €1.5 million in 2023 to grow the share of Irish-bred horses sold to overseas markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45850/22]
View answer598. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to consider introducing a voucher scheme (Details Supplied) for Horse Sport Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45851/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 595 to 598, inclusive, together.
Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is a company limited by guarantee and is the national governing body for equestrian sport in Ireland. It is recognised by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the Irish Sports Council, the Olympic Council of Ireland and Sport Northern Ireland. It was established in 2007 when the Equestrian Federation of Ireland and the Irish Horse Board were amalgamated, bringing together the breeding and competition sectors, on the basis of a Government commissioned report on the sector at the time. It receives State funds from the Department and through Sport Ireland.
It is responsible for devising and implementing strategies for the development and promotion of an internationally competitive Irish sport horse industry (breeding, sport and leisure aspects). HSI is approved by DAFM to maintain the Irish Sport Horse, Irish Draught Horse, Irish Sport Pony and Irish Cob Studbooks and it operates a comprehensive breed improvement programme and undertakes promotional and marketing initiatives.
My Department is fully committed to maximising the potential of the Sport Horse industry and continues to provide support to it financially and with policy initiatives. I have demonstrated my commitment to the industry by increasing the budget allocated to Horse Sport Ireland from €2.5m in 2018 to €5.2m in 2022.
My Department is committed to assisting in the promotion and development of equine breeding and production systems in Ireland. This is achieved through working closely with HSI.
I have recently received a copy of the funding submission from HSI for 2023, which, inter alia, details matters raised by the Deputy.
The HSI also receive funding through the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
