Written Answers Nos. 1255-1274
1255. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number and type of unused and-or unoccupied buildings in his Department's estates portfolio and all bodies under his Department's aegis. [54228/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department owns 20 properties that are currently unused or unoccupied – three commercial, 15 industrial and two residential properties.
These buildings are located at Fishery Harbour Centres, most of which would not be suitable for accommodation but are more suitable for use as commercial industrial units. The two residential properties have been offered to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to house Ukrainian refugees. However, they have not been occupied for some time and would need a considerable amount of work to make them fully habitable.
As regards the 12 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.
1256. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54280/22]
View answerThe Irish Horse Board (IHB) is a co-operative society made up of individual shareholders and is registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act. The IHB is an affiliate of Horse Sport Ireland. However, the IHB operates independently of my Department and therefore the running of their elections is a matter for the organisation itself.
1257. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the regulations that govern whether a person will receive reimbursement for a TB test; if tests must be completed in a given timeframe of notification; the primary or secondary legislation that underpins such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54286/22]
View answerUnder S.I. 58 of 2015 Animal Health and Welfare (Bovine Tuberculosis Regulations 2015), Regulation 4, keepers and herdowners are legally obliged to co-operate with a direction to present animals for testing, including the date by which the animals must be tested.
In addition, this Regulation states that the keeper or herdowner shall be liable for all costs relating to testing unless otherwise determined by me. Over years, the overarching arrangements have been that the keeper/herdowner pays for one herd test annually whilst the Department pays for any other herd test deemed necessary during the course of the year, provided that the keeper/herd owner arranges for the test to be completed within a certain timeframe of notification.
Bovine TB is a challenging disease to control and eradicate and its transmission is multifactorial. As part of the TB forum, my officials are working in collaboration with farming organisations, veterinarians, scientists and the agri-food sector.
The TB eradication strategy is currently being implemented. Herd incidence has reduced to 4.10% as of 23rd October 2022 from 4.33% at the end of 2021. This steady decline is welcome, but it continues to highlight the need of urgent action by all stakeholders.
1258. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on a budget announcement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54377/22]
View answer1259. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on a scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54378/22]
View answer1260. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54379/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1258 to 1260, inclusive, together.
Funding of €8 million was announced for a Liming measure as part of Budget 2023. This measure will support farmers in offsetting some of the cost associated with purchasing and applying lime to correct soil acidity.
Research shows that achieving optimum soil pH, not only unlocks soil phosphorous and potassium but also increases the growing crop's response to applied nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium fertiliser. This allows a reduction in fertiliser application rates.
Having soil at the optimum pH is also very important for clover based swards and multi-species swards which require lower levels of chemical nitrogen.
The Liming measure is currently in the development phase and details, including the price to be paid per tonne of lime spread, as well as the Terms and Conditions for applicants, will be announced at a later date.
Subject to Department of Public Expenditure and Reform approval, it is expected that the Liming measure will open for applications in the Spring of 2023.
1261. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of all payments made to fishermen and fish processing companies in County Cork for each of the years 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54443/22]
View answerThe details which the Deputy has requested are in large part already publicly available.
My Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Programme 2014-2020 has over recent years been the principal source of public funding for the sustainable development of our fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors and has been co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.
As it comes to its conclusion, the list of beneficiaries under the various schemes continues to be published on an ongoing basis as required by the EU Regulation 1303/2013 at the link below. Supports to fishers can be found on the Union Priority 1 (UP1) tab, with supports to processors mainly located on the UP5 tab and some also located on the UP1 tab. To be aware that the spreadsheet details the amount of EU funding received by each beneficiary in column H. As supports to fishers and processors are co-funded under the EMFF on a 50/50 basis with exchequer funds, the total funding received by each beneficiary will be twice the "Amount of EU contribution" figure detailed in column H. Individual fishers' names are redacted in line with data protection guidance.
eufunds.ie/european-maritime-and-fisheries-fund/operation-beneficiary-list/
The remaining funding paid to fishers in the 2020-2022 period relates to payments made under 2 of the schemes launched in response to the recommendations in the Report of the Seafood Task Force - Navigating Change (October 2021). The report recommended 16 support schemes collectively designed to address the impacts of Brexit and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement on our seafood sector and coastal communities. Payments to fishers in Cork made to date are detailed below. There have been no payments made to processors under these schemes to date.
Brexit Temporary Fleet Tie Up Scheme
|
Cork |
No of Payments |
Grant Aid |
|
2022 |
60 |
€3,595,900 |
|
2021 |
32 |
€1,804,000 |
|
Total |
92 |
€5,399,900 |
Brexit Inshore Business Model Adjustment Scheme
No payments in 2021. All payments completed/awarded to-date in 2022.
|
Cork |
NUMBER |
GRANT AID |
TOTAL |
|
<8m |
116 |
€2,700 |
€313,200 |
|
8-18m |
52 |
€4,000 |
€208,000 |
|
Overall |
168 |
|
€521,200 |
1262. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will request that the forestry appeals committee provides him with an explanation as to the reason the committee will not receive appeals against forestry licences through electronic means, given the very narrow window for making an appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54553/22]
View answerI wish to inform you that the Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) was established in 2018 pursuant to Section 14A of the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001. The Agriculture Appeals Office provides the administrative and secretariat support to the FAC.
In the matter of an electronic FAC appeals facility, I have been advised that consideration is currently being given to making an online appeals facility available for forestry and agriculture appeals.
1263. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the recently announced TAMS support for the installation of livestock underpasses could be provided to persons who installed underpasses in the past year, at the request of their local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54574/22]
View answerIt is proposed that additional supports for health and safety measures will be available under the new Capital Investment Scheme from 2023 onwards.
Submissions for changes to TAMS were sought last year and all changes requested have been considered when drafting the new schemes and finalising the Investment list. Livestock underpasses are one of the items under consideration for inclusion on the investment list from 2023 onwards.
It is also proposed to reset the investment ceiling to €90,000 and include proposed increased grant rates for specified investments that will form part of TAMS 3 in 2023. The terms and conditions of the scheme and the investment list for grant-aided items are currently being finalised. These changes are subject to approval of the Rural Development Plan (RDP) amendment by the European Commission which was formally submitted to the European Commission on the 25th of October 2022.
These changes if approved by the European Commission will be implemented from 2023 onwards. TAMS funding is not available retrospectively for investments installed prior to application. Any applicants who wish to apply for TAMS funding must firstly submit an online application and receive approval in line with the terms and conditions of the scheme before commencing any work.
1264. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied). [54642/22]
View answer1265. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied). [54644/22]
View answer1266. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied). [54645/22]
View answer1267. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied). [54646/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1264 to 1267, inclusive, together.
My Department’s primary function in relation to Avian Influenza (AI) is to help protect and control outbreaks of the disease in poultry and captive birds.
My Department monitors the avian influenza disease situation in wild birds to inform the risks presented to poultry and captive birds. To this end, this Department carries out avian influenza surveillance testing in domestic and wild birds throughout the year.
My officials have been working closely with all stakeholders to raise awareness of the increased risk that avian influenza presents to poultry and captive birds this year due to its presence in our wild bird population.
Highly Pathogenic AI (HPAI/bird flu) is very contagious to birds. All poultry owners and keepers of captive birds are urged to maintain stringent biosecurity measures to protect their flocks. Anyone travelling from an area known or suspected to be affected with avian influenza or where wild birds have been found dead is advised not to come into contact with poultry/captive birds without prior cleaning and disinfection of clothing and footwear.
Strict biosecurity remains the number one preventative measure to introduction of avian influenza into poultry and captive bird flocks. In this context, I introduced statutory bio-security regulations on Monday 19th September to ensure that best practice is adopted by all keepers of poultry and captive birds.
In addition, I introduced a confinement order for poultry and captive birds, effective on the 7th November, requiring flock keepers to confine all poultry and captive birds in their possession or under their control in a secure building to which wild birds, or other animals do not have access. It is important to note that housing is a support to biosecurity, not an alternative. Stringent biosecurity remains key to protecting poultry and captive bird flocks from disease.
The Department takes its lead in matters of public health from the Department of Health and its agencies and from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and its agencies in matters relating to wildlife.
Local Authorities, operating under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are responsible for the matters you raise in relation to maintenance of public areas.
1268. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can give permission to the Coillte Board to sanction an increase in pension payable to Coillte pensioners (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54658/22]
View answer1291. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with Coillte and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the Coillte pensions; if discussions have taken place about increasing the pension payments for retired workers given that their pensions have not been increased since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55195/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1268 and 1291 together.
As the Deputy may be aware Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and as such is operationally independent from my Department.
Any pension increases granted are at the discretion of Coillte and are subject to the approval of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
A request for consent is being considered at present.
1269. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of times his Department officials met with a person (details supplied) with regard to the regulatory review undertaken as part of project woodland, including dates, meeting type, in person or virtual, and any other attendees at the meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54716/22]
View answerA legal and regulatory review of forestry licensing was carried out by Alice Whittaker and colleagues of Philip Lee LLP and, following extensive stakeholder engagement, their Report, together with the supporting documents, has been published on my Department's website at the following link: gov.ie - Regulatory Review of Forestry (www.gov.ie)
As stated in their report, between 1st November 2021 and 23rd June 2022, the Philip Lee team engaged in almost 60 virtual bilateral meetings with the Project Woodland Project Board, the Working Groups, Department officials, individual stakeholders and the Forestry Policy Group.
The person named made a presentation on her report to all Department Forestry staff on 12th September 2022 by Webex.
1270. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 2151 of 8 September 2022, when an afforestation application by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54767/22]
View answerAs part of the Appropriate Assessment process for this application, it was reported that Rhododendron was recorded on this site during a field survey. Rhododendron is an invasive alien species in Ireland. I replied on 8th September that a further information request should issue shortly.
However, I now understand that rather than seeking further information from the applicant, my Department will recommend a set of mitigation requirements to be attached to the licence regarding the Rhododendron on site. It is intended that the application process will be finalised in the next few weeks and a decision letter will issue then.
1271. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the anticipated timeline for the completion of the EIA (agricultural) review; if his Department will consider a moratorium on permits for the removal of hedgerows pending the outcome of that review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54768/22]
View answer1272. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the evidential basis used by his Department that allows for a 500 m or 5 ha threshold for the removal of hedgerows without permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54769/22]
View answer1273. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will consider reducing the 500 m threshold for permits for the removal of hedgerows pending the outcome of the EIA (agriculture) review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54770/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1271 to 1273, inclusive, together.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (EIA) Regulations came into effect in September 2011 and were amended in April 2013 and September 2017. These Regulations were introduced following European Court of Justice rulings that Ireland had failed to adequately implement certain aspects of the EIA Directive (EU cases C215-06 and C66-06). The development of these Regulations and the associated thresholds included discussion and consultation with the European Commission.
Given the passage of time since the Regulations were introduced, it is appropriate to now review the Regulations.
The Department has committed to undertaking a full review of these Regulations along with a review of procedures for dealing with screening applications. This review will take place shortly.
Pending the review, it would be inappropriate for the Department to impose a moratorium on screening applications under the Regulations and my officials will continue to assess these applications to determine whether there is significant impact to the environment or not.
Separate to the EIA Regulations, the new CAP Strategic Plan has a stronger focus on the environment through a combination of new land eligibility rules, enhanced Conditionality, the Eco-Scheme under Pillar I and an environmentally ambitious Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) under Pillar II.
The new definition of the eligible hectare will avoid the incentive to remove features which are beneficial for climate or the environment. Under Conditionality farmers will have to devote at least 4% of their land to biodiversity. For the first time, this will place a direct financial value on hedgerows. The standards for the maintenance of land in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) will also require farmers to retain landscape features which include hedgerows.
There is also the 'space for nature' option in the Eco-Scheme to recognise farmers who commit a higher proportion of their land to biodiversity. Under the Eco-Scheme and ACRES, there are also hedgerow and tree planting options which will further incentivise farmers to plant trees and new hedgerows.
1274. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive payment under the areas of natural constraints scheme. [54857/22]
View answerThe person named applied to participate in the 2022 Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme on 14th May 2022.
In order to be eligible for payment under the scheme, applicants must meet the minimum livestock requirements as set out under the terms and conditions of the scheme.
According to records held by the Department, the person named does not hold any livestock and has therefore not satisfied the minimum livestock requirements set out in the terms and conditions of the scheme. Based on the records held by the Department, the person named is therefore not currently eligible to receive payment under the 2022 ANC scheme.
