Written Answers Nos. 701-714
701. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on any changes in the allowed number of days for food producers to store products with Dublin Port; if he will advise on guidelines for the number of storage days allowed and charges thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9870/23]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is not involved in the supply of storage facilities or the storage of goods at Dublin Port. Business operators do store containers of goods in compounds at Dublin Port. These compounds are owned by Dublin Port Company.
Certain goods being imported into the EU are required to undergo tests to ensure they comply with the requirements of EU legislation. In some cases, the legislation requires these goods to be held at Dublin Port until the results of tests are available. Business operators who have experienced issues in relation to the storage goods, pending the results of samples taken by DAFM staff, should contact my officials at the border control post in Dublin Port.
702. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a schedule of social media influencers and online personalities, television and or radio personalities engaged by his Department and bodies under his aegis in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; if he will include the fees expended, name of personality and campaign they were engaged on; and if he will also provide the key performance indicators in respect of their engagement [9892/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being collated by the Department and a reply will be forwarded within 10 working days.
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.
703. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of solar farms (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9941/23]
View answerUnder the new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), the Eligible Hectare is the basis of payment for area-based schemes such as the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS).
Within the CSP an eligible hectare is an agricultural area, that is used for an agricultural activity or, where the area is also used for a non-agricultural activity, is predominantly used for such activities.
An area is predominantly used for agricultural activity if that activity can be exercised without being significantly hampered by the intensity, nature, duration and timing of the non-agricultural activity. On this basis it is the view of my Department that the area under solar panels would normally be considered ineligible and hence deductions must be made for these areas along with any infrastructure constructed to support the solar farm such as access roads.
However, where a farmer is considering the installation of solar panels they should contact either their FAS advisor or my Department to discuss the specifics of their situation with details of the lands in question because the particular construction and operation of the solar farm may have an impact on the eligibility status of the lands in question.
In all cases, land parcels containing solar panels will only be considered eligible where an agricultural activity takes place (e.g. topping of grass) and the solar panels must not hamper the undertaking of that agricultural activity.
It is also worth noting that all the agricultural land used to claim BISS must be owned/leased/rented and must be used and managed by the applicant.
704. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason agricultural contractors are excluded from TAMS 3 as a majority of farm enterprises contract out work as it would not be viable to purchase the necessary machinery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10069/23]
View answerThe EU regulations (Article 17 of EU Regulation 1305/2013) that provide for the TAMS scheme under the RDP 2014 – 2020, specify that TAMS 3 beneficiaries must be farmers or groups of farmers. The regulatory transitional provisions for support from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) does not alter this definition.
Therefore, the Department is precluded from funding the purchase of equipment such as LESS equipment by contractors under TAMS unless they are also farmers. While there is no confirmatory data, previous estimates suggest a very significant proportion of farm contractors are also farming and therefore are eligible for and avail of the grant if needed.
705. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the hen harrier payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare, given that this payment issued on 4 February 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10099/23]
View answerThe Hen Harrier Project is operationally independent of my Department and is run by the Hen Harrier Project Team. The Project team are responsible for the administration of the project and associated payments. Any queries relating to payments due should be addressed directly to the Project team.
706. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the awards made both with and without a tender process to management consultancy firms (details supplied) by his Department and aegis bodies for each of the years 2018 to 2022 inclusive, in tabular form and classed by firm; the purpose and a brief description of the awards; the value of the awards and the total amounts paid; the timeline or timeframe of the contracts; and the desired or completed output. [10106/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the information requested is set out in the attached table.
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.
707. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the awards made both with and without a tender process to an organisation (details supplied) by his Department and aegis bodies for each of the years 2018 to 2022 inclusive, in tabular form; the purpose and a brief description of the awards; the value of the awards and the total amounts paid; the timeline or timeframe of the contracts; and the desired or completed output. [10124/23]
View answerDuring the period 2018 – 2022 inclusive, there were five contracts awarded to Microsoft by my Department. The details of which are contained in the table below.
|
Contract No |
Purpose/Description and outcome |
Period |
Contract Value ex VAT |
Amount Spent incl VAT |
|
4600001582 |
Provision of Maint & Premier Support on Critical Legacy System Software – Microsoft Systems. |
29.04.2018 -28.04.2019 |
€125,685 |
€145,474.56 |
|
4600002502 |
Provision of Maint & Premier Support on Critical Legacy System Software – Microsoft Systems. |
Cancelled |
n/a |
n/a |
|
4600002515 |
Provision of Maint & Premier Support on Critical Legacy System Software – Microsoft Systems. |
29.04.2019 -28.04.2020 |
€121,563 |
€149,522.49 |
|
4600003467 |
Provision of Maint & Premier Support on Critical Legacy System Software – Microsoft Systems. |
29.04.2020 -28.04.2021 |
€136,000 |
€142,423.67 |
|
4600004419 |
Provision of Maint & Premier Support on Critical Legacy System Software – Microsoft Systems. |
29.04.2021-28.04.2022 |
€81,268 |
€99,959.64 |
|
4600005408 |
Provision of Support of Critical Legacy Systems Software for Microsoft Systems |
29.04.2022- 28.04.2023 |
€137,697.80 |
€169,368.29 |
708. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the review of the EIA (Agriculture) Regulations; if it has commenced; the anticipated timeline for its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10224/23]
View answer709. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the imposition of a moratorium on screening applications under the current EIA regulations, given the biodiversity crises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10225/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 708 and 709 together.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has committed to completing a full review of the EIA (Agriculture) Regulations (S.I. 456 of 2011, as amended) along with a review of procedures for dealing with screening applications. To progress this review, my officials will commence a consultation process with all relevant stakeholders in the near future.
It would not be appropriate for the Department to impose a moratorium on screening applications until the review has taken place. All screening applications received are assessed by my officials in accordance with Article 8 of the EIA (Agriculture) Regulations. This assessment includes professional ecological assessment. If an application is not screened as having no significant environmental impact, it is rejected and a full Appropriate Assessment is required before permission can be granted for the proposed works.
710. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the recommendation from the Joint Oireachtas Committee of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to examining extensively the separation of prescribing and dispensing of veterinary medicinal products was undertaken by his Department; and if he is in a position to share the findings of this exercise, given the success this model of animal care and the lower levels of resistance to medicines as a result. [10277/23]
View answerThe separation of prescribing and dispensing of veterinary medical products (VMPs) has been a point of discussion for the Joint Oireachtas Committee of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, my Department and the various farming, retail and veterinary professional representative and regulatory groups who attend the Antiparasitic Resistance Stakeholder Group which my Department initiated in June 2020.
This group was established to optimise animal health with regard to parasite control and to address antiparasitic resistance.
The Group is a multi-stakeholder forum which provides a mechanism to guide and co-ordinate actions to address antiparasitic resistance in the animal health sector and protect the efficacy of antiparasitics for the benefit of animal health and welfare.
This Group chaired by the Chief Veterinary Officer, has developed and agreed a plan currently containing 42 actions to address parasite control in a coordinated way at a national level.
In respect of decoupling antiparasitic VMPs only or a full VMP decoupling, legal advices were received by my Department. This advice, in relation to both forms of decoupling was that for such decoupling to be permissible, a sound evidential basis in veterinary medicine is required to justify any partial or full prohibition on veterinarians selling the veterinary medicines that they prescribe. Such decoupling could not be solely for the purpose of economically assisting one sector of an industry over another and in the absence of a veterinary medicine evidential basis for either form of decoupling at that time such a move would not at that time be a viable option.
The advice received was that any such move would in effect be a restriction on the right of Private Veterinarian Practitioners to sell anti-parasitic VMPs which would be done for the purpose of conferring an economic advantage to non-veterinarians i.e. Licensed Merchants.
The issue of decoupling prescribing from retailing was a previous recommendation of the JCAM and it should also be noted that in appearing before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine,06/10/21, (available on www.oireachtas.ie) the DAFM stated:
“Finally, in addressing the recommendation within the Committee’s Report which mentioned the issue of decoupling, which is breaking the link between the dispenser and prescriber, DAFM sought additional legal advice on the issue and whether it is legally feasible. The advice received was that for such decoupling to be permissible, a sound evidential basis in veterinary medicine is required to justify any partial or full prohibition on veterinarians selling the veterinary medicines that they prescribe. Such decoupling could not be solely for the purpose of economically assisting one sector of an industry over another. This would be seen as providing State Aid to one sector over another. The Department’s view is that there is an absence of such sound veterinary medicine evidential basis and therefore decoupling would not currently appear to be a viable option. This aspect was also considered by the EU Parliament during negotiations on the Regulations and it concluded, similar to the Department, that there is no substantive evidence which shows a correlation between decoupling and animal/human health.
DAFM shared the outcome of these advices with members of the Antiparasitic Resistance Stakeholder Group in advance of its meeting on 15th April.
711. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a scheme similar to the urban regeneration and development fund will be applicable to rural regeneration and development fund towns of less than 10,000 population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9469/23]
View answerThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides investment to develop and deliver large scale capital projects in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas. The RRDF and the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund were both established under Project Ireland 2040.
Calls for applications to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place, and which are ready to proceed. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.
The RRDF is open for applications from State funded bodies including local authorities, Local Development Companies, government departments and State agencies.
To date, 215 projects have been approved for funding of €395 million for projects costing €542 million.
The timing of future calls for applications to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is under consideration and will be announced in due course.
712. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will clarify issues with regard to the €2,000 payment to an organisation (details supplied); and in particular whether, if branches do not manage to claim the payment, the excess funding will be distributed among other branches. [9873/23]
View answerLast November, 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 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 deadline for Men’s Sheds to submit applications to the IMSA has been extended and I would advise the Deputy to contact the IMSA for further details and with queries regarding the distribution of this fund.
Separately, Men's Sheds can also apply for funding to the Community Support Fund (CSF) that was announced last November under the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP). The €10m Community Support 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 Community Support Fund is being administered by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) on behalf of my Department and interested Men’s Sheds should contact their local authority's LCDC for details of this fund.
713. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her attention has been drawn to the fact that paid planning permission, sometimes in the region of hundreds of euros, is needed to erect a headstone on a grave; if any consideration will be given to waiving the fee for grieving families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9663/23]
View answerWhile my Department has legislative responsibility regarding burial grounds, this responsibility does not extend to the burial fees charged by local authorities. These costs are a matter for each local authority in respect of the cemeteries and burial grounds they provide.
Furthermore, guidelines or legislation governing planning permission and the fees associated with any planning application are matters for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the planning code.
714. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason she did not respond to correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the provision of four additional community services programme FTE posts to deliver a countywide meals and wheels operation in County Clare; if she will provide the up-to-date position in relation to this request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9729/23]
View answerMy department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 420 community organisations to provide employment opportunities and the delivery of local services through a social enterprise model.
I wish to advise the Deputy that a letter was issued on 13 December 2022 from my office to the manager of the organisation in question, in response to their correspondence regarding plans to extend the meals on wheels service and their request for additional staff resources to be funded under CSP. This letter advised that, in view of the restructuring of the CSP Programme and the transition of existing organisations supported under CSP to the new programme in January 2023, applications for additional resources were not being considered at that time. The response from my office also advised that while the programme is currently closed to new applicants, the organisation could provide their details to the department's dedicated email address csp@drcd.gov.ie and would be contacted should a new call be announced. Finally I wish to advise that it is my intention to re-open the CSP Programme to new applicants shortly.
