Written Answers Nos. 1295-1314
1297. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to a recent parliamentary question, where data was requested on his Department's decision to introduce mandatory TB testing of bovines over 36 months of age at six-month intervals and where such a decision was agreed, by which industry stakeholders; the specific fora; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55210/22]
View answer1298. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will identify and state the exact references contained in the EU animal health law regulation 2016/429, which he has referenced as the data source for implementing the new six-month TB testing rule for animals over 36 months of age that will be moved through livestock marts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55211/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1297 and 1298 together.
In April 2021 Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689, of the 17th December 2019, supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and the Council, came into effect. Annex IV, Part 2, Section 2 of this regulation requires that for herds to maintain their TB Free Status all animals, over the age of six weeks, moving into their herds must be TB tested either within the 30 days prior to movement or within 30 days after movement into their herd.
By way of derogation, this 30-day pre or post movement test is not required if both the animals that are moving and the herds from which they are moving have been tested in the previous six months. The aim of these regulations is to prevent and control animal diseases transmissible to animals or to humans.
These regulations are mandatory in nature and directly applicable across all EU member states. They enable herds maintain a TB Free Status to trade on the open market. Most animals being moved currently satisfy the requirements.
While my Department can discuss the mechanics of their implementation with stakeholders, as the competent authority we are mandated by law to proceed with implementation. The implementation of these regulations has been discussed with the Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum on several occasions.
The implementation of the Bovine TB Eradication Strategy 2021-2030 is overseen by the Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum along with support from three working groups – a scientific group, an implementation group and a finance group to ensure that all aspects of the Strategy are addressed. The Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum and its working groups comprise of representatives from across the agri-food sector, leading researchers, farming organisations and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Please see the attached document detailing the relevant organisations.
The three working groups report to the Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum. The minutes in respect of all TB Forum and working group meetings are available to read on www.bovinetb.ie.
The first phase will come into effect on 1st February 2023.
For the first phase the requirements are that:
- Cows of all ages, and males over the age of 36 months that are moving farm to farm or through a mart must be:
- TB tested in the last 6 months and
- Moving from a herd that has been tested in the last 6 months.
If they do not fulfil both these requirements then they must then be tested, either within the 30 days prior to movement or within 30 days after movement into the new herd.
Animals that require a test in the 30 days after movement will be restricted immediately to the herd into which they have moved.
- This means the animal cannot move from this herd other than directly to slaughter.
- This herd has 30 days to carry out a test on those animals.
- Once the animal tests clear the restriction on the animal will be automatically lifted.
- If after the initial 30 days, the animal is still alive and has not been tested then the herd will be automatically restricted, and no cattle will be allowed moved off the farm except directly to slaughter.
- Herds thus restricted may be allowed to move animals in during this period of restriction and may be allowed to move out calves, less than 6 weeks of age, but these calves are not eligible for export while the herd remains restricted.
- If a farmer tests or slaughters the animal within the next 60 days the restriction on the herd will be lifted automatically, provided the animal tests clear.
- If after 90 days of movement into the herd, the animal is still alive and has not been tested, the herd will then be scheduled for a full herd test. Sales of calves under six weeks of age and purchase in will continue to be facilitated up until the day before the test is due.
At present, no date has been set for implementation of the second phase, which will see the same requirements applied to all animals over the age of six weeks. The implementation of phase two will be discussed with the Implementation Working Group of the Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum after phase one has been implemented.
|
TB Forum Representative Organisations |
|
Animal Health Ireland |
|
Bord Bia |
|
Independent Chair of the Bovine Tb Forum |
|
Independent Chair of the Finance Working Group |
|
Independent Chair of the Implementation Working Group |
|
Independent Chair of the Scientific Working Group |
|
Coillte |
|
Dairy Industry Ireland |
|
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine |
|
Independent Farmer |
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Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers Association |
|
Irish Cooperative Organisation Society |
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Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association |
|
Irish Farmers Association |
|
Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association |
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Irish Wildlife Trust |
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Macra na Feirme |
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Meat Industry Ireland |
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National Parks & Wildlife Service |
|
Ornua |
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Teagasc |
|
UCD School of Veterinary Medicine |
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Veterinary Ireland |
1299. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a report on funding provided to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55286/22]
View answerThe Irish Harness Racing Association (IHRA) is a representative body for Harness Racing in Ireland.
My Department funded the Indecon Review of the Irish Harness Racing Sector at a cost of some €57,000 in 2017 and a five-year Strategic Plan for the IHRA at a cost of some €64,000 in 2018.
In addition, from 2016 to date, grants totalling some €175,000 have been paid to the IHRA under my Department's Equine Infrastructure Scheme. Some €27,000 has been allocated to the IHRA in 2022 under the Equine Infrastructure Grant Scheme, subject to terms and conditions.
My Department also awarded a tender to carry out an education programme aimed at road racing sulky participants and owners of trotting horses, with a view to raising awareness of the importance of good horse welfare. This programme ran between 2017 and 2019 with a total funding allocation of some €96,000.
The IHRA has submitted a number of investment proposals to my Department which are currently being reviewed by my officials.
1300. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the exact breakdown of figures for thoroughbred horses that are rendered, those that die in training and those euthanised at home, in tabular form. [55302/22]
View answerThe numbers of equines identified with Weatherby's passports, which can thus be considered to be thoroughbred horses, recorded on my Department's central equine database as having been moved to knackeries (for disposal) in the State in the years 2020 and 2021 and to mid-October 2022 are set out in the Table below.
My Department does not capture nor record the reasons behind the movements to knackeries.
|
Number of equines identified with Weatherby's passports (Thoroughbred animals) moved to knackeries in the State 2020-13/10/2022 |
|
2020 |
619 |
|
2021 |
641 |
|
2022 ( to 13/10/2022) |
319 |
1301. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of planting, felling and road licences issued for forestry operations in each of the past five years; the volume of timber licensed for felling; the number of hectares licensed for planting; the number of jobs in the sector each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55308/22]
View answerMy Department has issued the following licences for the years 2017 to 2022 (up to 4th November):
|
Year |
No. of licences issued |
Afforestation (Hectares) |
Forest Roads |
Felling (Hectares) |
|
2018 |
4,919 |
855 (4,025ha) |
461 (74km) |
3,603 (39,845ha) |
|
2019 |
5,310 |
588 (3,550ha) |
542 (94km) |
4,180 (57,197ha) |
|
2020* |
2,592 |
525 (2,434ha) |
350 (100km) |
1,717 (19,475ha) |
|
2021 |
4,050 |
502 (2,016ha) |
671 (72km) |
2,877 (33,203ha) (8,452,966 m3) |
|
2022 up to 04/11/22 |
4,057 |
599 (4,227ha) |
648 (63km) |
2,810 (40,043ha) (8,140,010m3) |
*Licence output was affected by court judgements and their interpretation that led to a much more onerous Appropriate Assessment procedure and the need for ecological input for most licences
I am very much pleased to advise that due to improved output in forestry licensing this year, we have seen considerable reductions in the backlog of forestry licences.
The backlog has reduced from 6,000 in August 2021, to 3,700 in January of this year and now stands at 1,606. We are issuing more licences than applications received, and this means that the backlog continues to drop over time, with faster turnaround times for new applicants.
To date this year the Department of Agriculture have issued 4,057 licences, which is 1,160 higher than the applications received and there are there are currently over 960 licences for over 7,000 hectares of land approved and ready to plant.
As of 4th November 2022, the volume of wood licensed to be felled is 8,140,101 m3, which significantly exceeds the COFORD forecast of just over 4 million m3.
According to the most recent, COFORD report on economic activity on and employment levels in the forestry sector, direct employment, across the forestry & logging and manufacture of wood & wood products sectors, has been estimated as some 5,600 full-time equivalents. This is less than the previous estimate of 7,000 persons and is likely attributable to greater mechanisation across all forest operations, allied to improved logistics. The decline in afforestation rates over the past decade will also have had an impact, though somewhat balanced by an expanded level of reforestation planting, as crops come to maturity are felled and regenerated.
The report concluded that employment levels in the sector is likely to grow over the coming decade, particularly in skilled areas such as mechanised forest harvesting. In particular, the most recent COFORD roundwood forecast foresees an increase in production from 4.7 million cubic metres in 2021 to 7.9 million by 2035. Government policy also looks to the need to expand afforestation to at least 8,000 ha per annum to tackle climate change and the recently secured funding of €1.3 billion for the forestry sector will support such afforestation. Such an expansion will have a significant and lasting impact on employment, not just in planting but in management, harvesting and wood processing down the line.
1302. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he has used the EMFAF crisis mechanism, triggered by the European Commission in March 2022, to support the fisheries sector, including details of measures designed to support the inshore sector. [55422/22]
View answerFollowing Brexit and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, I established the Seafood Task Force, which included representation from the fisheries sector and which made a series of 16 recommendations to assist the seafood sector in terms of both short-term survival and long-term transformation. Given that these recommendations were industry led, it has been my priority to implement these for the benefit of all seafood stakeholders. Since its publication I have launched supports and developmental strategies worth €225 million.
This included the €24 million 2022 temporary tie-up scheme which, at the request of the industry, was expanded to allow vessel owners to tie-up for an additional month over what had been given in the 2021 tie-up scheme. The 2022 scheme allows fishers to tie up to two calendar months, receiving up to €88,000 per month. This tie-up opportunity frees up additional quota for those vessels continuing to fish, improving vessel returns and supporting viability in the wider fleet and enables the opportunity to fish until the end of the year.
For the Inshore segment, the Business Model Adjustment Scheme was launched earlier in the year and provided payments of between €2,700 and €4,000 and a suite of online training courses for Inshore fishers.
In respect of the EMFAF, a programme has been developed for Ireland in a collaborative manner with input from a wide range of stakeholders in the seafood and marine sphere. This is aimed at developing the seafood sector in a sustainable manner while also protecting our valuable marine environment. The programme which has been approved by Government and which is awaiting European Commission adoption, is a long-term plan which will support a much wider range of stakeholders up until 2027.
The European Commission has provided a range of other funding options for fishery and aquaculture sectors to deal with the short-term current challenges facing the seafood sector. In this context I am continuing to monitor and assess the situation and keeping these options under active consideration while existing supports are still being administered.
1305. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will give consideration to a scheme whereby landowners can apply for assistance with cutting back roadside trees with ash die-back or other diseases that may cause an increased danger of falling trees on public roads. [55451/22]
View answerThe care and management of trees adjacent to roads is the responsibility of the landowner on whose land the roadside trees are growing. It is advisable that landowners make themselves aware of the full legal extent of their land ownership and of any obligations arising from this.
My Department does not offer funding for the removal of roadside trees, but has recently published guidance on the subject of roadside trees (“A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees”) and this can be accessed at the Department website.
1307. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total expenditure by his Department on pension payments to former civil servants in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the total payments made to former civil servants, including a breakdown of the grade they held upon retirement, and the number of persons in each grade, in tabular form; and if he will provide separate schedules for payments to former civil servants appointed before and after 6 April 1995. [55474/22]
View answerAs part of the Public Sector Reform Programme to deliver reform and innovation across the public service, the National Shared Services Office (formerly PeoplePoint) was established in 2012. The National Shared Services Office (NSSO) leads on shared services strategy and the implementation of shared services across the Civil Service.
The NSSO is responsible for the provision of human resources, payroll and pension administration for Government Departments.
The NSSO has responsibility for the processing of pension entitlements for employees who retire from my Department and therefore the information and breakdown on pension payments for the years mentioned is held by the NSSO.
I have asked staff in the Human Resources Division to liaise with the NSSO to arrange for this information to be provided directly to the Deputy.
1308. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of officials in his Department who have undertaken the Harvard Business School advanced management programme in the past ten years to date; the grade of each official and the cost for each attendee, in tabular form. [55475/22]
View answerI can confirm that officials in my Department attended a Harvard programme during the period specified.
The programme was coordinated by the Senior Public Service Support Team within the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER).
Officials in my Department's Learning and Development function are liaising with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to obtain the relevant data and I will arrange for this information to be provided directly to the Deputy.
1309. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a penalty for a farmer participating in the BDGP scheme who is exiting sucklers now on age grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55496/22]
View answerThe Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) formed part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.
It provided for funding of up to €300 million over the six-year programme and addressed widely acknowledged weaknesses in the maternal genetics of the Irish suckler herd, made a positive contribution to farmer profitability and reduced the greenhouse gas intensity of Ireland’s beef production.
The original BDGP programme completed in 2020 with one-year transitional schemes continuing in 2021 and 2022 pending the introduction of the new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) in 2023. A second tranche of BDGP (BDGP II) was initiated in 2017 and comes to an end this year.
BDGP I & II provide for annual payments to participating farmers for completion of defined actions as set out in the Terms and Conditions of the scheme.
Participating farmers agreed to this 6-year commitment when they applied for the schemes and they agreed that should they not fully complete the six-years any monies paid as part of the scheme would be recouped.
It represented a significant commitment for participants over the duration of the programmes and it was inevitable that some participants would seek to withdraw at some stage for a variety of reasons and in the majority of such cases full recoupment of monies paid took place.
However, a number of withdrawals each year were due to reasons such as ill health or incapacitation as a result of injury or old age and in such cases, where it was deemed appropriate, Force Majeure as provided for by EU Regulations and in the Terms and Conditions of the Programmes, was applied with no recoupment of monies paid out under the programme.
If someone wishes to have a withdrawal from the programme without recoupment considered under Force Majeure they can make such a request in writing to the Beef Schemes Section of my Department in Portlaoise, remembering to include any evidence or documentation, including submissions from a medical professional, as part of their request.
1311. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full-time students enrolled in Teagasc agricultural colleges in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [55523/22]
View answerAs the information sought by the Deputy is an operational matter for Teagasc, I have referred the matter to Teagasc for direct reply.
1312. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of containers inspected by his departmental officials following arrival into Dublin Port from 1 November 2021 to 1 November 2022, in tabular form. [55527/22]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is attached in tabular form, as requested. The figures in the table include both deep sea containers and roll on-roll off freight units.
Containers/freight units may contain several consignments of interest to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, each requiring separate controls, thus the number of controls is considerably higher than the number of containers. The number of controls is included in brackets in the table.
|
Containers inspected in Dublin Port between 1 November 2021 and 1 November 2022* |
|
Month |
Live Animals |
Pesticides |
Plants and Plant Products |
Products of animal origin |
Totals |
|
November 2021 |
29 (813) |
25 (27) |
330 (852) |
2,132 (4,384) |
2,516 (6,076) |
|
December 2021 |
30 (657) |
22 (22) |
310 (810) |
1,953 (4,195) |
2,315 (5,864) |
|
January 2022 |
33 (455) |
34 (38) |
335 (750) |
1,958 (4,087) |
2,360 (5,330) |
|
February 2022 |
28 (545) |
29 (31) |
261 (757) |
1,960 (4,255) |
2,278 (5,588) |
|
March 2022 |
31 (536) |
27 (30) |
409 (1,003) |
2,078 (4,638) |
2,545 (6,207) |
|
April 2022 |
31 (559) |
27 (28) |
412 (908) |
2,032 (4,679) |
2,502 (6,174) |
|
May 2022 |
32 (536) |
44 (56) |
440 (1,013) |
2,135 (4,483) |
2,651 (6,088) |
|
June 2022 |
45 (352) |
34 (37) |
540 (1,202) |
2,055 (4,617) |
2,674 (6,208) |
|
July 2022 |
45 (319) |
35 (40) |
470 (1,132) |
2,032 (4,605) |
2,582 (6,096) |
|
August 2022 |
38 (424) |
39 (46) |
409 (1,010) |
2,070 (4,436) |
2,556 (5,916) |
|
September 2022 |
33 (367) |
46 (51) |
349 (939) |
2,026 (4,667) |
2,454 (6,024) |
|
October 2022 |
32 (655) |
35 (42) |
356 (924) |
1,967 (4,533) |
2,390 (6,6164) |
|
Totals |
407 (6,288) |
397 (488) |
4,621 (11,300) |
24,398 (53,579) |
29,823 (71,555) |
*Containers regularly include several different consignments that require separate official controls. The number of controls carried out are in brackets.
1313. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the legislation that covers the safe and appropriate transport of animal carcasses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55567/22]
View answerThe transportation of meat carcasses for human consumption is governed by the EU Regulation (EC) No. 853 of 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin, the conditions of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety, must also be complied with.
The Department gives legal effect to these regulations by The European Union (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2020 (SI No. 22/2020).
The transportation of animal by-products including carcasses of dead animals is governed by the EU Animal By-Product Regulation (EC) No. 1069 of 2009 and Regulation (EU) No. 142 of 2011 which are given legal effect by The European Communities (Animal By-Product) Regulations 2014 (SI No. 187/2014).
Those wishing to transport animal by-product material must apply to be approved by my Department in accordance with Article 23(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009.
The list of transporters currently registered in accordance with these regulations can be found on my Department's website at the following link:
www.agriculture.gov.ie/agri-foodindustry/animalbyproducts/euapprovedabpplants/
1314. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants in agri-environmental schemes (details supplied) for each of the years 2014 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the total allocation by scheme and by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55577/22]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is presented in the table below which shows the number of participants and the total expenditure by scheme and by year.
Please note that the figures in relation to the Results-based Environment-Agri Pilot (REAP) project and the Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS) is presented by the Scheme year (that is, the amounts shown are what was paid in respect of the actions taken in that specific year of the Scheme), while the data in relation to the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) is shown by the calendar year.
Data in respect of the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) for the years in question is being compiled and will be sent to the Deputy as soon as possible.
|
Scheme |
Scheme year |
No of participants |
Payment Amount |
|
REAP |
2021 |
3,719 |
€13,184,951.98 |
|
REAP |
2022 |
3,683 |
Being processed |
|
Scheme |
Scheme Year |
No of participants |
Payment Amount |
|
GLAS |
2015 |
22,171 |
€17,740,781.54 |
|
GLAS |
2016 |
36,597 |
€153,851,179.52 |
|
GLAS |
2017 |
49,290 |
€206,124,501.04 |
|
GLAS |
2018 |
48,776 |
€204,408,393.42 |
|
GLAS |
2019 |
48,489 |
€202,274,792.94 |
|
GLAS |
2020 |
48,121 |
€200,166,543.20 |
|
GLAS |
2021 |
45,631 |
€188,158,586.60 |
|
GLAS |
2022 |
43,548 |
Being processed |
|
Scheme |
Financial Year |
No of participants |
Payment Amount |
|
AEOS |
2014 |
21,036 |
€60,773,432.74 |
|
AEOS |
2015 |
20,762 |
€79,800,927.91 |
|
AEOS |
2016 |
11,334 |
€32,119,213.26 |
|
AEOS |
2017 |
4,589 |
€16,198,514.10 |
|
AEOS |
2018 |
4,546 |
€7,444,847.15 |
