Written Answers Nos. 1819-1838
1819. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when decisions will be made on applications to the decommissioning scheme for fishing vessels arising from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1007/23]
View answerIn July 2022, I announced the Brexit Voluntary Permanent Cessation Scheme with a budget of €60 million in direct payments and tax relief worth up to a further €20 million. The scheme was developed based on a recommendation of the Seafood Task Force to help restore balance between fishing fleet capacity and available quotas, following the reductions in quotas for stocks arising from the EU/UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The recommendation proposed that the decommissioning of vessels with total capacity of up to 8,000 gross tonnes and 21,000 kilowatts could restore the viability of the remaining fleet.
The scheme was subsequently open to applications through BIM. Participation in the scheme was entirely voluntary and to allow fishers to fully consider their options, the closing date for applications was extended until 18 November 2022. Following analysis of the profile of the applicants, to achieve the target of the recommendation and ensure applicants received full premiums, it was calculated that additional funding was required and this would require a State Aid application.
At a meeting on 10 January 2023, I met with representatives of the fishing industry and informed them that a State Aid decision had just been received allowing for direct payments of up to €75 million and with tax relief increasing proportionately. The result of this is that BIM have now issued offers to all 57 eligible applicants. The decommissioning of these vessels will make available an extra €34m in quota for the approximately 170 whitefish vessels remaining in the whitefish fleet, improving their profitability and securing the future of the fleet. I am satisfied that I have now enabled all those who have chosen to apply for this scheme receive the full value of the scheme payment as guided by the Seafood Taskforce recommendation.
1820. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1012/23]
View answerThe person named was approved to GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of 1st January 2017.
The GLAS contract was selected for an on-farm inspection on 29th March 2021 and notification of the inspection findings issued to the person named by letter dated 20th July 2022. This letter gave the person named the option of appealing this decision to the Regional Inspector. An appeal was received on 29th July 2022.
The Regional Inspector reviewed the original decision and notified the person named of the findings by letter dated 31st August 2022. The original findings were upheld. There is no record of this decision being appealed to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
The applicant also had a 20% penalty applied following a non-compliance with Statutory Management Requirement 3 relating to Habitats. The applicant was notified of the inspection outcome on 9th September 2021, this communication afforded the right to seek a review of the decision. The applicant sought a review on 29th September 2021 and this was completed on 7th January 2022.
The penalty imposed was increased to 45% on review. The applicant was notified of the review outcome on 7th January 2022 , this also outlined the option to appeal the decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
The applicant has submitted an appeal to that office. The office of the Agriculture Appeals Office is independent of my Department and any decision on this case is now outside the remit of my Department. The outcome of the appeal will be notified directly to the applicant.
1821. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of calves that have been exported to Northern Ireland from the Republic on an annual basis over the past 20 years. [1069/23]
View answer1822. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of calves that have been imported from Northern Ireland to the Republic on an annual basis over the past 20 years; and if those calves originate from Northern Ireland or in England, Scotland or Wales. [1070/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1821 and 1822 together.
This information is being collated and will be sent to the Deputy when finalised. It should be noted that a large volume of cattle statistics including import and export is publicly available on the Department's website here: gov.ie - AIM Bovine Statistics Reports (www.gov.ie):
1823. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on a query (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1080/23]
View answerThe practice of Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) is an important environmentally sustainable technology that will facilitate Ireland meeting its environmental commitments through reductions in ammonia and other reactive nitrogen emissions from soil.
The practice leads to greater nutrient recovery from slurries and indirectly improved nutrient use efficiency, as well as a reduced dependency on chemical fertilisers.
There is a clear need to meet Ireland's national ammonia ceiling under the National emissions ceiling directive. I am still assessing whether to make the trailing hose available under TAMS III. It important to note that there is an emissions reduction differential between trailing hose and trailing shoe.
To date under TAMS II, 70% of expenditure under LESS was grant aided for trailing hose machines. While each of the LESS options meet nitrate requirements, it is important that the number of trailing shoe units on farms is maximised to help contribute to the agreed 25% reduction in Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions and 5% ammonia reduction from the agriculture sector by 2030.
To meet the emissions reductions target for both GHGs and ammonia it is necessary for 90% of the slurry produced to be spread using LESS technology by 2030. It is assumed in these targets that 50% of the slurry will be applied using trailing shoe technology and 50% by trailing hose. In 2020, twice as much slurry was being spread using trailing shoe as opposed to trailing hose, however, with the much greater number of trailing hose machines having already been grant-aided, this balance is at significant risk of being reversed.
The reduction of emission during slurry spreading is a crucial element in meeting the agricultural emissions reduction targets.
The weight difference between trailing hose attachments and trailing shoe attachments is small, depending upon the design of the attachment. The lightest trailing hose attachments start at around 410kg, while the lightest trailing shoe attachments start at around 450kg.
It is proposed to increase the funding for LESS from 2023 onwards from 40% to 60% for applicants which will more than offsets the potential higher cost of the trailing shoe compared to the trailing hose.
1825. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the cut-off dates for his proposed scheme for "forgotten farmers"; if he will outline the definition of a forgotten farmer as proposed by his Department; the current status of the proposed scheme; if it will involve the reallocation of farm entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1097/23]
View answerI have long supported the cohort of farmers known as the forgotten farmers and I have committed to supporting them who find themselves, in many cases, in this situation through no fault of their own.
Since the time the Department was first approached with regard to the group commonly referred to as forgotten farmers, the group was defined as young farmers who were under the age of 40 in 2015, had established their holdings prior to 2008 and held no or low value payment entitlements.
My Department has developed a preliminary outline of a proposal to provide support to the forgotten farmer group. There are a number of issues to be addressed, for example, the funding required and consistency with the public expenditure, before the details of the eligibility requirements and benefits to successful applicants under a scheme can be finalised.
Details of the scheme will be made available as soon as this process has been completed. I am committed to delivering for these farmers as quickly as possible.
1826. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the measures under budget 2023 to address the group of farmers known as "forgotten farmers" will be implemented; if the farmers affected were consulted in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1136/23]
View answerI am committed to supporting the cohort of farmers known as the forgotten farmers. Many of these farmers have found themselves in this situation through no fault of their own.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has developed a preliminary outline of a proposal to provide support to the group of farmers commonly referred to as forgotten farmers.
There are a number of issues to be addressed, before the details of the eligibility requirements and benefits to successful applicants under a scheme can be finalised.
My Department has received representations from Public Representatives, farming bodies and from individual prospective applicants with regard to the forgotten farmer issue.
I want to step this out this support for the forgotten farmers as quickly as possible.
1827. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person who has been willed a farm holding as a sole beneficiary but probate has not yet been completed can participate in the ACRES scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1138/23]
View answerIn preparation for the launch of ACRES, my Department undertook a review of operational and contractual issues that could potentially impact on scheme delivery and farmer participation. This review concluded that, while it is important to support the broadest possible spectrum of farmer participation, there were difficulties with cases going through probate.
Under EU regulations, the Department is obliged to ensure that contracts offered remain active and fully managed for a minimum contract term of five years. ACRES is a five-year commitment which requires the identification of land parcels, actions and the person responsible for contract delivery at the application stage.
Where succession questions are outstanding, it is unclear at application or approval stage with whom the Department would be contracting in the longer term, and who will have final control of the land entering the scheme. For this reason, ACRES applications cannot be accepted on land which is currently the subject of probate.
1828. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an employer (details supplied) still has an obligation to fully compensate crew for all their service on a vessel, in cases in which the vessel changed ownership subsequent to the completion of 90-days by the fisher in 2020 and 2021; if the current employer still has an obligation to pay the compensation to the fisher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1177/23]
View answerIn its report of October 2021, the Seafood Task Force recommended the introduction of a voluntary permanent cessation scheme. Within this recommendation, it specified that it would be appropriate to compensate crew who are impacted by the scheme.
In the development of a scheme in response to this recommendation, compensation for crew was incorporated and is determined based on qualifying criteria specified in the scheme and according to length of service.
In relation to evaluation of individual applications for decommissioning and the associated calculation of crew payments, this is an operational matter for BIM. As such, I will ask BIM to reply directly to the Deputy on this matter.
1829. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of hospitality staff, cleaning and betting staff who work at Leopardstown, Fairyhouse, Punchestown and the Curragh Racecourse at event days throughout 2022, in tabular form. [1208/23]
View answerHorse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for HRI, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
1830. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of hospitality staff, cleaning staff, betting staff and so on who work at Shelbourne Park greyhound stadium at each event day throughout 2022, in tabular form. [1209/23]
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.
1831. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the tonnage of pigmeat per county that was imported into Ireland in 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1260/23]
View answerAs requested, the attached file contains the details of the total tonnage of pigmeat imports (into Ireland) per Country for the full Calendar year of 2021, as per the information provided by the Central Statistics Office (AgriStats).
The total figure for Imports of pigmeat into Ireland, in 2021, is 79,868 tonnes, with the top three countries being the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands with import figures of 28,158 tonnes, 12,282 tonnes and 11,159 tonnes respectively.
The total amount exported from Ireland was 290,827 tonnes, for the same period.
The full year CSO trade data is generally available by February of the following year. Officials in my Department will issue the requested 2022 figures directly to the Deputy as soon as the data become available.
|
- |
Imports |
% Imports |
|
Country |
Tonnes |
|
|
United Kingdom |
28,157.75 |
35.26% |
|
Germany |
12,281.68 |
15.38% |
|
Netherlands |
11,159.16 |
13.97% |
|
Spain |
7,381.67 |
9.24% |
|
Denmark |
7,362.14 |
9.22% |
|
Poland |
5,403.35 |
6.77% |
|
Italy |
2,043.87 |
2.56% |
|
France |
3,530.56 |
4.42% |
|
Lithuania |
579.04 |
0.73% |
|
Hungary |
451.31 |
0.57% |
|
Romania |
816.11 |
1.02% |
|
Austria |
165.43 |
0.21% |
|
Belgium |
253.80 |
0.32% |
|
Nicaragua |
23.63 |
0.03% |
|
Portugal |
146.69 |
0.18% |
|
Finland |
21.12 |
0.03% |
|
Luxembourg |
26.90 |
0.03% |
|
Sweden |
18.76 |
0.02% |
|
Latvia |
16.31 |
0.02% |
|
Others: <10 Tonnes (22) |
28.23 |
0.04% |
|
79,867.5 |
100.00% |
1832. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the information that his Department has on swine fever hot zones across Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1261/23]
View answer1835. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of biosecurity measures that are in place to prevent the importation of swine fever; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1279/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1832 and 1835 together.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) continuously monitors the African Swine Fever (ASF) situation both within the EU and in a global context, keeping up to date with current disease events and attending relevant EU and international meetings and working groups.
Throughout 2022, outbreaks and cases of ASF continued to be reported in domestic pigs and wild boar, respectively, in Europe. Last year, the EU Member States of Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia reported ASF. It has also been reported in Moldova, Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine.
DAFM has deployed considerable resources to its Border Control Posts to mitigate the risk of this and other diseases entering the country. It is recognized that the main risk pathways for the introduction of ASF into Ireland are via the illegal import of meat and meat products and contaminated clothing, vehicles and equipment. Consequently, DAFM ensures that border checks and inspections are carried out at Irish airports and ports for illegal and inadvertent importation of meat and meat product imports which could contain ASF virus.
In addition, DAFM has been engaged in a comprehensive awareness raising campaign in relation to ASF for a number of years, and remains committed in its efforts to prevent the incursion of ASF into this country.
1833. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the tonnage of pigmeat per county that has been imported into Ireland from identified hot zones since 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1262/23]
View answerI understand that the Deputy's question relates specifically to imports from Poland.
According to trade data from the Central Statistics Office for 2021, the total amount of pigmeat imported into Ireland from Poland was 5,403 tonnes in 2021. These imports were required to comply with EU single payment rules and European law.
The full year CSO trade data is generally available by February of the following year. Officials in my Department will issue the requested 2022 figures directly to the Deputy as soon as the data become available.
The volume of pigment exports from Ireland in the same period is 290,827 tonnes.
1834. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that are taken by his Department on foot of complaints or allegations around damage caused by herbicide or pesticide spraying on farms; if inspectors routinely take soil or water samples to test for the presence of chemical following such complaints; if this does not occur at present, if it would be considered in the future; the actions that are taken on foot of a specific allegation of crop and insect damage from spraying activities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1277/23]
View answerMy Department is the competent authority for pesticides in Ireland. All pesticide-related complaints are investigated by officers authorised under various Statutory Instruments having regard to the applicable legislative framework.
Authorised officers may, if considered necessary or appropriate, take samples as part of an investigation. Currently, there are no plans to alter the existing procedures.
A thorough investigation was conducted by my Department into the specific complaint alleged and no non-compliances with the relevant regulations were identified.
My Department continues to verify compliance with pesticide legislation and takes seriously any complaints or allegations of non-compliance and will continue to do so in the future.
1836. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is concerned at the high number of deaths of horses at Punchestown racetrack (details supplied) and the level of horse deaths across Irish racetracks; the measures that he intends taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1289/23]
View answerHorse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for HRI, therefore, the question has been referred to HRI for direct reply.
1837. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason island residents in the Aran islands with commercially owned vehicles kept permanently on the mainland were not afforded free parking places in Ros a ’Mhíl harbour on the same basis that island residents with privately owned vehicles were; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1355/23]
View answerPermit parking is being provided at Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre for persons whose normal place of residence is on the Aran Islands following consultation with the three Island Committee Representative Groups and their desire to have islander access to the Fishery Harbour Centre car park facility. This replaces a car park operated under licence until 2021 by the Committees on behalf of the islanders. As is the case with any such car park, charges apply and spaces cannot be guaranteed for any individual user. Information on the permit process can be found online at: gov.ie - Application forms for Car Park Permit – Ros an Mhíl (www.gov.ie)
Other parking spaces in the car park will continue to be available as a public car park at ordinary parking rates with further privately operated car parking facilities available in the immediate vicinity.
1838. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date with the development of phase three of the marina at Ros a 'Mhíl harbour, for which funding of €2 million was announced in 2022; the amount of this money expended in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1356/23]
View answerIn November 2021, my Department was granted planning permission for a 77 berth extension to the small craft harbour with a car park and ancillary infrastructure at Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre (FHC).
Initially it had been planned to dredge the area and dump the material at sea. However, on review, it is considered better value for money to re-use the dredged materials to reclaim land, thereby increasing the potential for future development. This change has required a further planning application which remains pending and thereafter will require a waste licence application. When all the necessary consents are granted the Department will be in a position to progress the project. €1.94m was spent on capital projects in Ros an Mhíl FHC in 2022, including €14,000 of the €1m originally allocated to the Small Craft Harbour.
Meanwhile, my Department's priority at Ros an Mhíl remains delivery of the Deep Water Quay project and I am happy to advise that the contractor will be mobilising on site in the coming days.
