Written Answers Nos. 200-212
200. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the tolerance levels used in ingredients declarations on animal concentrate feed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56843/22]
View answerMy Department is the competent authority with responsibility for enforcement of animal feed legislation in Ireland.
Regulation (EC) No. 767/2009 on the placing on the market and use of feed includes the general principle that the labelling and the presentation of feed shall not mislead the user. The legislation also sets down permitted tolerances for discrepancies between the labelled compositional values of a feed material or compound feed and the values analysed in official controls carried out by my Department.
Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No. 767/2009 sets down the permitted tolerances where the composition of a feed material or compound feed is found to depart from the labelled composition in a manner such as to reduce its value. The tolerances are given either as an absolute percentage value (this value must be subtracted from/added to the declared content) or as a relative value marked with ‘%’ after the value (this percentage must be applied to the declared content to calculate the acceptable deviation).
By way of example and having regard to Part A of Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 767/2009, the permitted tolerance for a complementary feed for dairy cows with a declared crude protein content of 16% is 14-18%.
My Department continues to monitor compliance with Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 as part of its annual animal feed control programme.
201. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a report arising from an investigation into a complaint made by a person (details supplied) relative to an on-farm inspection in 2013, is now completed; if so, if the report will be published; the reason that the findings of the report have not been communicated to the person who made the complaint; if he or his senior officials will meet the complainant to discuss the status of the report and the next steps in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56850/22]
View answerThe complainant made a number of serious allegations regarding an official of my Department who carried out an on-farm inspection in 2012.
A number of meetings has taken place between senior officials in my Department and the complainant regarding the matter including November 2013, September 2017, June 2018 and my Department has corresponded with the complainant on numerous occasions. On foot of the serious allegations made, my Department carried out a full review of the case. In July 2018 the complainant was formally advised by letter of the outcome of that review in that there was insufficient evidence available to proceed further with the investigation and that the matter had been drawn to a close.
In addition, the complainant was advised, in a letter from the Secretary General of my Department in April 2021, that it is not possible for this Department to disclose the outcome of complaints relating to individual staff members to third parties and under these circumstances could not comment further in relation to the matter.
The complainant has been advised that if he has any new information that he wishes to bring to my Department's attention he is welcome to do so in writing.
202. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of badgers that were culled or vaccinated in each of the years 2019 to 2021. [56870/22]
View answerAs part of the Bovine TB (bTB) Eradication Programme my Department implements two main control strategies, removal and vaccination, in areas around the country where there have been epidemiological links to badgers and bovine TB breakdowns. The requested totals are provided in the table below:
|
Year |
Total number of badgers captured in vaccination areas |
Total number of badgers captured and removed in culling areas |
|
2019 |
1,937 |
5,254 |
|
2020 |
4,702 |
4,806 |
|
2021 |
6,586 |
5,868 |
203. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that representatives of an organisation (details supplied) are included in the industry led working group in regard to the request for tenders dated 12 October 2022 relating to services to prepare a business plan for the establishment of an Irish group forest certification scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56895/22]
View answer204. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that representatives of each existing group certification scheme in Ireland are included in the industry -led working group in regard to the request for tenders dated 12 October 2022 relating to services to prepare a business plan for the establishment of an Irish group forest certification scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56896/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together.
I propose to take PQs 56895/22 and 56896/22 together.
The COFORD Council with funding from my Department has carried out a study on forest certification which was published in November 2022. Forest certification is a voluntary process used by forestry organisations to reassure consumers that the wood and wood products they buy come from sustainably managed forests.
The request for tender deadline has just closed and tenders will now be assessed. The successful tender will prepare a detailed business case outlining the Industry funding model and funds required to support private certification. The stakeholder group to develop the business plan will include representatives from the forestry sector and the composition of this industry group will be determined by the successful tenderer and this process will be independent of my Department.
205. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56995/22]
View answerAs 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 such consent is being considered at present.
206. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will provide details of the funding allocated to all producer organisations in the fishing sector annually since 1 January 2018, including the total amounts as of 31 October 2022. [57010/22]
View answerThe funding of Producer Organisations is provided for by the EMFF Seafood Development Programme 2014-2020 and details of payments made to each of these organisations since 2018 are provided in the table below. Payments are made through the Producer Organisation Scheme which was agreed by the EMFF Monitoring Committee and which consists to two elements. Part A of the scheme provides support for new Producer Organisations (POs). One such payment has been made during this period to the National Inshore Fishermen's Association. The remaining payments were under Part B of the scheme which funds measures identified in the POs' Production and Marketing Plans (PMPs). These PMPs are submitted by POs on an annual basis, with the PO's Annual Report, and evaluated to assess that the criteria, established by EU regulation, have been met. Where it is established that these criteria have been met, funding is approved. Funding amounts for individual POs are based on simplified cost options, which calculate payments based on relevant expenditure by the POs over the previous three years.
The Programme is approaching closure, but grants to Producer Organisations will continue to be paid in 2023 for activities carried out in 2022. Beyond this, the EMFAF Seafood Development Programme 2021-2027 was approved by Government in September of this year and has been submitted to the Commission for adoption. Under this Programme, new schemes, including those relevant to Producer Organisations, will be brought forward in due course.
|
- |
Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation |
Irish Fish Producers Organisation Ltd |
Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation |
Irish South & East Fish Producers Organisation |
National Inshore Fishermen's Association Company Ltd |
Total |
|
2018 |
€88,711.30 |
€94,460.27 |
€92,527.33 |
€36,683.42 |
- |
€ 312,382.32 |
|
2019 |
€88,722.23 |
€98,016.48 |
€90,643.34 |
€46,441.74 |
- |
€323,823.79 |
|
2020 |
€88,680.62 |
€93,573.16 |
€93,958.55 |
€38,096.64 |
- |
€314,308.97 |
|
2021 |
€85,348.97 |
€85,404.55 |
€90,164.14 |
€34,800.19 |
€6,943.76 |
€302,661.61 |
|
2022 |
€84,700.08 |
€84,700.08 |
€89,073.98 |
€33,448.11 |
- |
€291,922.25 |
|
Total |
€436,163.20 |
€456,154.54 |
€456,367.34 |
€189,470.10 |
€6,943.76 |
€1,545,098.94 |
207. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual afforestation target in the Forest Strategy implementation plan draft for public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57016/22]
View answer208. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the difference in annual afforestation targets between that specified by an organisation (details supplied) and the draft forest strategy implementation plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57017/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.
The COFORD Council is a stakeholder platform which advises my Department on issues related to the development of the forest sector in Ireland. In its recent report ‘Forests and wood products, and its importance in climate change mitigation’ COFORD advised that 16,000 ha of annual afforestation is required if Ireland is to achieve the government target of 18% forest cover by 2050.
As the Deputy may be aware, afforestation levels have been declining in recent years and Project Woodland was established in February 2021 to ensure that a new impetus is brought to woodland creation in Ireland. We have recently published a Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050 which was informed by a series of extensive engagements and consultation. This Vision has informed a new Forestry Strategy for Ireland which has been developed by Working Group 2 of Project Woodland.
In parallel, a draft Forest Strategy Implementation Plan has also been developed to facilitate the initial steps in the implementation of the Forest Strategy. This Plan comprises a list of actions and measures and includes the Forestry Programme for the period 2023-2027 which will be the main implementation vehicle for the Forest Strategy in the immediate to short term. As the Deputy is aware, the draft Forest Strategy and Forest Strategy Implementation Plan were published on Tuesday the 18th of October and are now subject to a 6-week public consultation process, which concludes on the 29th of November.
Supports are proposed in the next Forestry Programme to incentivise afforestation, with an annual target of 8,000ha broken down by indicative areas associated with each of the 12 proposed Forest Types. This is in line with the target of 8,000 hectares in the Climate Action Plan 2021, which is a detailed plan for taking decisive action to achieve a 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and setting Ireland on a path to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050.
I am committed to working with all our stakeholders to substantially increase our afforestation rates over the next decade. I am pleased to advise that I have secured a package of €1.318 billion for forestry which will support the biggest and best-funded Forestry Programme ever in Ireland and which will allow us to offer new and improved rates to those who undertake planting and sustainable forest management under the new Programme. However, afforestation is a voluntary land use choice for landowners. Any target that is set must be realistic and we have set an ambitious 8,000ha target which is a significant step up from existing levels achieved in recent years.
209. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of times that he has visited County Clare since the Government took office; and the locations that he visited in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57024/22]
View answerI visited Co Clare once last year, when I visited Ennis Mart to address the farmers of the county as part of my national engagement on the Common Agriculture Policy. The consultation meeting at Ennis Mart was an excellent and engaging event where I met with farmers from across the county as well as some of the farm organisations who represent Clare farmers.
The meeting continued for more than two hours. I left fully appraised of the excellent and diverse farming county that Clare is across all land types. There was also good engagement from Oireachtas members. The work I do as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is intended to support those in the agri-food and fisheries sectors in all counties, including Clare.
210. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by her Department in 2022; if she will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in her Department. [56781/22]
View answerThe Department of Rural and Community Development has not been subject to any legal action by the European Commission or any associated fines resulting from such actions.
211. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will include churches in any scheme to assist with lighting and heating costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56779/22]
View answerThe Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and the charities sector in meeting the high cost of energy currently and is committed to supporting the sector in meeting these costs.
Not-for-profit and voluntary organisations in the Community and Voluntary sector are woven into the fabric of community life across Ireland, but they are vulnerable to the impact of increased energy costs.
The recent budget allocated €10m to my Department to put in place a support scheme for community and voluntary organisations and charities. I am pleased to advise that applications for the Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS) will open on 21st November.
The scheme will be administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development and will provide once-off support to organisations within the Community and Voluntary sector which fall outside the parameters of other energy support schemes being delivered by Government. Further scheme details are now available on the Pobal website. I would encourage intending applicants to check the scheme details over the coming days and to familiarise themselves with the process so that they are ready when the scheme opens for applications.
While churches themselves are not eligible, parish halls and other community facilities that are open to the wider community may be eligible to apply.
My Department will continue to work with relevant stakeholders, including the community and voluntary sector, charities, local authorities and local development companies, to support community organisations across the country as they deal with the ongoing and emerging challenges. I would encourage all groups to engage with Gov.ie, their Local Authority and Local Development Company so that they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.
This Scheme is one of a range of supports introduced through Budget ’23 and everyone is encouraged to visit gov.ie/reduceyouruse to find out how they can make energy savings, where safe and possible to do so.
212. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of times that she has visited County Clare since the Government took office; and the locations that she visited in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57028/22]
View answerDetails of visits to County Clare by the Minister for Rural and Community Development since her appointment to the position in June 2020 are outlined in the table below:
|
Year |
Number of visits to County Clare |
Locations visited |
|
2020 |
0 |
|
|
2021 |
1 |
July 2021 – Kilrush, Carrigaholt, Kilmihil, Lissycasey, Ennis, Tulla, Ballylannidy |
|
2022 |
2 |
April 2022 – Ennis, Clarecastle, Clareabbey, Lisdoonvarna, Ennistymon, July 2022 – Lahinch |
