Written Answers Nos. 390-401
390. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update as to the agreements that have now been reached following his recent meetings with the fishing industry in respect of the EU-Norway negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2498/23]
View answerThe 1980 Agreement is the main bilateral agreement governing the EU's fisheries relations with Norway. It covers the North Sea, Skagerrak and the North East Atlantic, and allows for the setting of Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for joint stocks, transfers of fishing possibilities, joint technical measures and issues relating to control and enforcement.
The main issues of concern for Ireland in the annual negotiations relate to transfers of the Blue Whiting stock in Western Waters to Norway and Norway's access for Blue Whiting in EU, in practice, Irish waters.
The transfer of Blue Whiting to Norway is a long-standing feature of the EU-Norway agreement, as it is used within the agreement as a “currency” in the negotiations to pay for Arcto-Norwegian cod in the Barents Sea which the EU receives from Norway under an agreement reached as part of Norway's accession to the EEA.
Ireland's long-standing position is that those who benefit most from this transfer of Arctic cod pay for it or, as a minimum, contribute most and my priority in these negotiations is to keep the level of Blue Whiting transfer to Norway as low as possible. I have worked to bring down the level of this transfer from over 9% of the blue whiting TAC to just over 4% for the last two years.
The other area of interest for Ireland in these negotiations is the level of access for Norway to EU, and Irish waters. For 2021 for the first time, and in 2022, the EU granted access to Norway to fish some of its Blue Whiting quota in EU waters of ICES Areas 6 and 7. In practice this means waters within Ireland’s 200 miles zone up to our 12 nautical mile coastal limit off our West coast. This access was accepted by Ireland as part of the deal to reduce the level of Blue Whiting transfer to Norway. This year, however, Norway is seeking significantly higher levels of access to EU waters, in practice Irish waters reflecting the substantial increase in the Blue Whiting Total Allowable Catch for 2023 (a 81% increase on last year). I am working to limit overall Norwegian access to EU/Irish waters and in particular not to grant access to the 50 miles zone around Ireland (the waters West of 12 degrees West).
The EU-Norway negotiations for 2023 began in November 2022 and four rounds of negotiations have taken place, with the most recent round held in Brussels last week.
I am engaged with industry representatives on this issue and met them most recently on 10 January to discuss the ongoing negotiations. Industry representatives were working with my team during the negotiations last week in Brussels. I am actively engaged on this issue with Commissioner Sinkevicius, the EU Fisheries Commissioner, and met him most recently last Thursday (12th January) to set out Ireland’s priorities so that the Commission, as the lead negotiators on behalf of the EU, understand fully our position.
Further negotiations are expected between the EU and Norway next week and I will continue to be fully engaged to achieve the best possible outcome for Ireland.
391. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a late application by a person (details supplied) under the 2023 fodder scheme can be accepted in light of circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2550/23]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that on 2nd November 2022, I launched the 2023 Fodder Support Scheme, which builds on the success of the 2022 Fodder Support Scheme. The 2022 Scheme had over 71,000 applicants, with payments totalling €54 million issuing to farmers in December 2022.
The 2023 Fodder Support Scheme is the successor to the 2022 Scheme and aims to incentivise farmers, in particular drystock farmers, to grow more fodder (silage and/or hay) in 2023 to ensure Ireland does not have any animal welfare issues over the winter of 2023/spring of 2024. It is also a reflection of the significant increase in input costs such as fertiliser, energy and silage plastic that farmers have experienced over the past 12 months in particular.
Successful applicants for the 2022 Fodder Support Scheme were eligible to apply for the 2023 Scheme up to midnight on 5th December 2022 and my Department sent reminder SMS text messages to applicants who were in the 2022 Fodder Support Scheme. My officials have examined the relevant records and have confirmed to me that the herdowner concerned did not apply for the 2023 Fodder Support Scheme.
392. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a thosóidh obair ar an gcé dhomhainfharraige i Ros an Mhíl; cen tráth atá i gceist chun cur isteach ar shíneadh ama ar an gcead pleanála don ché; cén uair a rithfidh an cead pleanála amach; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [2594/23]
View answerCúis áthais dom a chur in iúl don Teachta Dála go bhfuil sé beartaithe ag na conraitheoirí atá ceaptha chun tabhairt faoi thionscadal na Cé Domhainmhara tús a chur leis an obair ag an láthair sna laethanta beaga amach romhainn. Bhuail ionadaithe ó mo Roinn agus comhairleoirí an tionscadail le hionadaithe ó Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe ag tús mhí na Nollag chun cúrsaí pleanála a phlé. Ag an gcruinniú sin, cuireadh in iúl don Roinn go bhfuil an cead pleanála bailí go dtí mhí Iúil mar gheall ar fhorálacha reachtúla a bhaineann le fachtóirí cosúil le tréimhsí saoire agus liúntais eile. Chomh maith leis sin, cuireadh in iúl don Roinn nach mór oibreacha suntasacha a chur i gcrích sular féidir síneadh a chur leis an gcead pleanála atá faighte. Chuige sin, coinneofar súil ghéar ar an dul chun cinn atá á dhéanamh i ndáil leis an tionscadal chun cinneadh a dhéanamh maidir leis an uair ba cheart aon iarratas pleanála a dhéanamh chun síneadh a chur leis an gcead pleanála atá faighte cheana féin.
393. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications to the new agri-climate rural environment scheme in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2661/23]
View answer394. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the provisions that have been made for over subscription to the new agri-climate rural environment scheme; the provisions that have been put in place by Government to cover the shortfall in payments and make sure all those who applied for the green scheme are retained and paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2662/23]
View answer395. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when applicants to the agri-climate rural environment scheme will be notified if they are accepted in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2663/23]
View answer396. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans that have been put in place for applicants to the agri-climate rural environment scheme in County Wexford who may be deemed unsuccessful in their applications; if applicants will be excluded until 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2664/23]
View answer397. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he accepts the fact that farmers need to know without delay if they are to set aside the lands that have been identified for the agri-climate rural environment scheme in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2665/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 393 to 397, inclusive, together.
The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is the agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027. It is a voluntary scheme whereby farmers, when approved into the Scheme, will undertake certain environmental actions on their land for at least five years.
There are two approaches available to farmers under ACRES, namely the ACRES General approach and the ACRES Co-operation approach depending on the location of their holding.
The Government has committed €1.5 billion to ACRES over its duration with the aim of facilitating the participation of 50,000 farmers. This is a significant number so the intake into the scheme is being phased, with at least two tranches. Tranche 1 of ACRES opened for applications on Monday 17th October 2022 and closed Wednesday 7th December 2022 . Phasing the intake into the Scheme helps to spread the workload on advisors. Intake into the Green Low Carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS), the predecessor to ACRES, was also on a tranche basis for the same reason.
Applications for Tranche 1 are closed, however, it is anticipated that ACRES Tranche 2 will open for applications in Quarter 4 of 2023.
The scheme received 46,000 applicants and approximately 1,450 of these are applicants from County Wexford. I am delighted to see such a strong response to ACRES. This shows clearly how engaged and ambitious our farm families are for embracing the climate and biodiversity challenge. ACRES has proven to be a strong and farmer-friendly scheme which has caught the imagination of the farming public.
All applications will be validated against the eligibility criteria stated within the terms and conditions and scheme specifications over the coming weeks. All validated applications will then be entered into the ranking and selection process. Following this all applicants will be notified if their applications have been successful or unsuccessful. It is expected that notifications will issue to applicants in February 2023. I am reviewing the matter regarding the number of applications to be approved.
398. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the call by a fishing representative organisation (details supplied) regarding the differentiation of small-scale fishery products in the market through traceability, community-supported fisheries and direct, short-chain marketing schemes, empowering fishing organisations to become price makers. [2682/23]
View answerThe Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) sets down a legal framework for the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources. Within this legal framework, I consistently work to support the interests of inshore fishers.
Bord Bia has responsibility for the promotion and marketing of Irish food in domestic and international markets and continues to work closely with the seafood sector to develop new higher value markets. Their seafood promotions focus on all types of seafood from small and large producers, encouraging domestic consumers to actively seek out Irish seafood and promote it on the basis of its quality, range and responsible sourcing credentials. I announced a Brexit Inshore Marketing Scheme in March 2022 to assist the inshore fisheries sector to mitigate the impacts of Brexit by growing value in existing markets and developing new markets. As part of this scheme, Bord Bia implemented a marketing plan for supporting the sales and promotion of inshore species such as Irish crab, lobster, whelks, inshore herring/mackerel/hake/pollock on both the domestic and export markets. I can advise the Deputy that the valuable work on this dedicated inshore marketing scheme is continuing in 2023.
The short chain of locally caught and consumed seafood products is encouraged and promoted where possible. Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s seafood development agency, has supported a number of such initiatives and I have recently engaged with BIM on exploring new product opportunities for the Mackerel Hook and Line fishery. BIM continues to assess how European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) supports can be designed so that appropriate groups or organisations can seek support for such initiatives.
In the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future, the Government commits to ensuring “that inshore waters continue to be protected for smaller fishing vessels and recreational fishers and that pair trawling will be prohibited inside the six-mile limit.” I am fully supportive of this objective. The Government also committed to supporting the inshore sector on Producer Organisation establishment so as to generate greater marketing and promotional capacity. In 2021, my Department recognised the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation as a Producer Organisation and consideration of the application by a further association representing inshore fishers for recognition as a Producer Organisation is at an advanced stage in the assessment process.
The Common Market Organisation (CMO) forms part of the CFP and deals with post-harvesting/catching activities in relation to fishery and aquaculture products under Regulation (EU) No. 1379/2013. This includes setting out provisions for the establishment of Producer Organisations, common marketing standards which work alongside conservation measures to ensure the provision of high quality, sustainable products, and consumer information rules to support consumers in making informed purchasing choices. A report on the application of the CMO Regulation will form part of the report on the functioning of the CFP which the European Commission will be presenting to the European Parliament and Council. It is my understanding that this report will be released in the coming weeks.
399. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether Coillte's plans for partnering with a company (details supplied) are in line with the plans committed to in the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2441/23]
View answerCoillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and is operationally independent of the Minister and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I am, therefore, not in position to comment on any operational issues relating to the establishment of the new investment fund.
The primary aim of the proposed new Forestry Programme is to enable Ireland to use its potential for afforestation to help meet its national emission reduction and biodiversity obligations while, at the same time, supporting the forestry sector and farm families. This is why the Government has committed €1.3 billion to this Programme, with substantially higher payments for farmers.
This is biggest and largest ever funded Forestry Programme ever introduced by any Government here, and it has been designed to ensure that farmers will be its primary beneficiaries.
The National Development Plan aims to support investments towards the realisation of our climate ambitions and targets including under the new Forestry Programme. However, the afforestation targets set out in both the Forestry Programme and the Climate Action Plan are ambitious and will require the input of all stakeholders.
It is Government policy that Coillte, as the State forestry company, should play its part too by re-engaging with afforestation and they have responded to this in their new Forestry Vision and Strategy. They have indicated that they will support the delivery of Ireland's afforestation targets through a suite of initiatives which will contribute 100,000 ha by 2050.
As the company is precluded following a decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union from directly receiving premiums, they have indicated that some of the implementation of their strategy will be collaboration with third parties in projects.
Farmers, being our biggest cohort of landowners, will have the most opportunity to benefit from the new Forestry Programme and will receive 33% more premium payments than any other landowner under the Programme.
There is also a role for Coillte and for non-farmers in helping to achieve our ambitious afforestation targets, and the new Forestry Programme will provide for this too. This will include support for the creation of new forests in Ireland through the harnessing of funding and assets from private and public sources, including afforestation grants and premiums, to provide long term social returns for all stakeholders. In other words, where land is in private ownership, whether farmer or non-farmer, it will be eligible for grants and premiums under the new Programme, as is currently the case under the existing programme.
In conclusion, both I and Minister of State Hackett are aware of the ambitious targets we have signed up to in terms of afforestation. Farmers are the by far the biggest target and the biggest beneficiaries of what we propose to do here. Farmers will receive the longest premiums and benefit from complementary Basic Income Supports for Sustainability (BISS) in a way that institutional investors will not.
Our new programme is the biggest and best-funded under any Government and our focus is now is on securing EU state aid approval as quickly as possible in order to introduce the Programme as quickly as possible.
400. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason an organisation (details supplied) in County Tipperary has been refused access to grant funding of €2,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2457/23]
View answerIn November 2022, I was delighted to announce funding of €800,000 to support Men’s Sheds throughout the country.
The initiative will see grants of up to €2,000 provided to over 400 IMSA registered Men’s Sheds nationwide to assist them with running costs such as electricity or insurance bills.
The individual grants will be distributed to the over 400 Men’s Sheds via its representative body, the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA). The Men’s Shed the Deputy refers to should contact the IMSA for details relating to funding.
Separately, Men's Sheds can also apply for funding under the recently announced Community Support Fund (CSF). This €10m fund was set up to help small community groups with their energy/running costs but will also provide funding for small capital works projects. The fund is being administered by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) on behalf of my Department and interested groups should contact their local LCDC directly for further information.
401. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 4 of 15 December 2022, the date on which the final draft policy for the islands was received by her; the date on which the policy for the islands will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2672/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government is committed to publishing a 10 year policy on island development with associated three year action plans. Indeed the Programme for Government includes a commitment in this regard.
I can confirm to the Deputy that I received the draft Islands Policy just before Christmas and I am currently reviewing it with my officials. Once it meets with my approval, there are a number of further steps which need to be taken before any Government policy is published. These steps include presentation of the draft to the relevant Cabinet Sub-Committee for discussion prior to its submission to Government for approval. I am committed to progressing the finalisation of the Islands policy in consultation with my Government colleagues as soon as possible.
