Written Answers Nos. 281-300
282. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline any requests he has received from local authority-owned fisheries harbours for funding for capital improvement works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26872/23]
View answerI established the Seafood Sector Taskforce to address the impacts arising on the seafood sector from the EU/UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. In January 2022, I launched the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure (BALAMI) Scheme 2022-2023 exclusively for the rejuvenation of local authority owned public piers and harbours based on the recommendations of the Taskforce Report. The scheme is a unique initiative designed to support job creation and protection by distributing Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) funds to enhance, upgrade, modernise and develop publicly owned coastal and marine infrastructure to facilitate diversification of economic opportunities.
In April 2022, I announced initial funding of €31.7m under the scheme for 110 projects. Following the second call for applications in December 2022, I increased this funding to €55.3m including approval for 54 additional projects and a higher rate of funding for all projects. Details of the funding allocated is available online at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/01fd7-mcconalogue-announces-increased-brexit-investment-in-public-marine-infrastructure-total-now-553m/.
Applications for funding to complete capital works under the Scheme were submitted by the local authorities to my Department and the window for submission is now closed and all funding under the Scheme has been awarded. All eligible projects were approved for funding.
The responsibility for the development, and maintenance of local authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each local authority in the first instance. I am also mindful that the primary governance role for local authorities rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
283. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current annual budget for the Marine Institute in Ireland; the estimated cost of increasing this budget by 10% and 20%, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26873/23]
View answerAs the parent Department of the Marine Institute, the funding provided by my Department provides for the current and capital costs of the Marine Institute to enable it to perform its core functions which includes research and data collection underpinning the Common Fisheries Policy, co-coordinating, promoting and assisting in marine research and development and providing such services related to marine research and development that facilitate marine economic development while protecting the marine environment.
The current annual funding allocation provided by my Department and the estimated cost of increasing this budget by 10% and 20% is as follows;
|
- |
2023 Allocation |
10% Increase |
20% Increase |
|
Exchequer |
€42,058,00 |
€46,263,800 |
€50,469,600 |
|
EMFF/EMFAF* |
€4,659,000 |
€5,124,900 |
€5,590,800 |
|
Total |
€46,717,000 |
€51,388,700 |
€56,060,400 |
*EMFF: European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. EMFAF: European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund.
The Marine Institute also receives funding from other Departments and entities in respect of specific projects, which it carries out alongside its core functions where resourcing allows, however, this funding varies from year-to-year.
284. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he and his Department have taken and will take to prioritise traditional coastal communities, as per a commitment in the most recent election manifesto of a political party (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26874/23]
View answerThe approach to developing our Coastal Communities has been multifaceted with considerable investment being made over the past number of years and commitments made for ongoing support into the future. Community Led Local Development has been a key aspect of my Department’s EMFF Seafood Development Programme. Under this, €12 million was made available to Fisheries Local Action Groups to deliver funding for entrepreneurial activities and community initiatives. The emphasis on this funding continued under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve with €25 million being made available for the Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme. Continued funding for community led local development has also been committed to in the new EMFAF Seafood Development Programme. These supports combined are ensuring ongoing opportunities for job creation and development of community initiatives within coastal areas.
In addition to this, I have launched an ambitious programme of harbour infrastructure investment through the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme. Up to €55.3 million in funding has been provided to develop and enhance public marine facilities, which will provide key infrastructure for both business and leisure activities.
The lifeblood of many coastal communities is the seafood sector. Through the Seafood Development Programmes and Brexit Adjustment Reserve schemes, there has been considerable investment in fisheries and other parts of the seafood supply chain ensuring the creation of sustainable job opportunities. This has included, but not been limited to investment in fishing vessels, assistance for younger fishers to acquire fishing vessels, capital supports for aquaculture and seafood processing and short term supports to assist the seafood sector and coastal communities overcome disruptive international events such as Brexit. Support has also been provided for small scale coastal fisheries under these programmes, including facilitating the formation of new producer organisations which will ensure the development of this important segment of the fleet.
This has all been done in the context of sustainability and while this has been a key focus of funding delivered to the seafood sector, support has also been provided for projects which protect our marine based natural resources and ensure that these resources are available for future generations.
285. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he has taken during this Government's term to introduce a fit-for-purpose functioning aquaculture licensing system in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26875/23]
View answer286. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of implementing all of the recommendations of the Aquaculture Independent Licensing review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26876/23]
View answer287. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has a plan to consolidate all current aquaculture legislation on the statute books into a single Bill that will allow for the aquaculture industry to sustainably develop in the years ahead; if he will provide any cost that would be required to carry out this piece of work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26877/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 285 to 287, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will appreciate the aquaculture licensing process is complex.
My Department considers all applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act (as amended) and applicable national and EU legislation. There are several statutory timeframes set out in the legislation in respect of aquaculture licensing as the process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation. In addition, the legislation governing aquaculture licensing provides for an independent appeals mechanism. Foreshore licenses may also be appealed by way of Judicial Review. Any proposed changes to the current legislation will require Government approval for inclusion on the Legislative Programme.
The Independent Aquaculture Licensing Review Group carried out a detailed examination of the existing aquaculture licensing process, undertook comprehensive stakeholder consultation and examined comparative national and international consent systems to determine best practice for managing a complex licensing process in a transparent, environmentally appropriate and legally robust manner. The implementation of the recommendations is one of the commitments in the Programme for Government. The recommendation to eliminate the backlog as a priority has been delivered in relation to shellfish and priority work is ongoing to address outstanding renewal applications in finfish aquaculture. Following the completion of the drafting of the appropriate environmental assessments, it is anticipated to bring a number of finfish applications to public and statutory consultation shortly.
Last year I delivered another of the Review's recommendations when I launched Phase I of the new state of the art Aquaculture Information Management System (AQUAMIS). The online viewer was developed in collaboration with the Marine Institute and is the first step in digitising the aquaculture licensing application process. This online aquaculture viewer allows members of the public to freely access and view licensed aquaculture sites and mapping information through a public portal. Phase II of the project is currently being developed and will result in a one stop shop for the aquaculture licence application process, enhance the sharing of information and reduce the administrative burden. This is being delivered as part of the ongoing development of IT services for the Fisheries and Aquaculture sector.
It is not possible to provide an isolated costing for the delivery of the Review recommendations to date as the staff involved also work across all aspects of the Aquaculture and Foreshore licensing process in my Department.
My Department is continually monitoring all of its services, including the licensing of aquaculture activities to ensure we provide an efficient service to all our customers while ensuring our environmental and legal obligations are being adhered to.
288. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions his Department has taken to explore a more flexible approach to the inspection of fishing vessels by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, as committed to in the most recent general election manifesto of a political party (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26878/23]
View answerThe Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is an independent regulatory agency as set down in the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006. All operational issues are exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). As Minister, I am expressly precluded from getting involved in operational matters. I have therefore referred the Deputy's query to the SFPA for attention and direct reply.
289. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide all fisheries local area group (FLAG) funding, by county and project, for each of the years 2015 to 2023, in tabular form; if any unspent funds were returned during these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26879/23]
View answerMy Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Programme 2014-2020 has over recent years been the principal source of public funding for the sustainable development of our fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors and has been co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.
As it comes to its conclusion, the list of beneficiaries under the various schemes continues to be published on an ongoing basis as required by the EU Regulation 1303/2013 at the link below, with the county of each beneficiary detailed. Beneficiaries are listed on 6 different tabs based on the six Union Priorities (UP) set out in Article 6 of the EMFF Regulation (508/2014). Projects delivered under the Fisheries Local Area Development Scheme can be found on the UP4 tab.
The EMFF Programme provided a budget of up to €12m in funding to be awarded by the Fisheries Local Area Groups (FLAGs) and administered by BIM under this scheme, with funding being demand led. From this budget, the FLAGs awarded funding of €11.88m.
eufunds.ie/european-maritime-and-fisheries-fund/operation-beneficiary-list/.
Further Community Led Local Development funding for coastal communities is available under the €25 million Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme which aims to counter the adverse economic and social consequences of Brexit on businesses operating in the blue economy in our coastal regions. The scheme offers aid of up to €200,000 for capital investments and also offers aid for training and mentoring.
Additionally, the successor programme to the EMFF, the €258.4 million European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027 provides for continued funding for the development of a sustainable blue economy through Community Led Local Development. The process for selecting Fisheries Local Action Groups under this programme has already commenced and approved local development strategies will commence implementation early in 2024.
291. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the strategic investments his Government has made during this Government's term to attract increased landings into Ireland of sustainably caught fish in Irish waters and promote the development of the seafood processing sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26881/23]
View answerThe value of landings into Ireland reached €507 million in 2022, with non-Irish vessels accounting for over one third of this. This represents growth on previous years, despite volume declines in landings primarily driven by the effect of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and Brexit on Ireland and other Member States.
In addition to fostering the sustainable development of the Irish fleet, there have been initiatives which will enhance Ireland as a destination for landings by non-Irish vessels.
During the period 2020-2022, €77m was invested under the Department’s Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme in the six State owned Fishery Harbour Centres at Killybegs, Ros an Mhíl, An Daingean, Castletownbere, Dunmore East and Howth. In January I allocated €37.3m for capital projects in the 2023 Programme. This funding is in addition to the €55.3m that I announced in December 2022 for 164 projects under the Brexit Adjustment: Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme (BALAMI) 2022 – 2023. This Scheme was designed to help the seafood sector adapt to the impacts of Brexit, including though modernised public marine facilities at important landing locations such as Kilmore Quay and Clogherhead. These investments demonstrate this Government’s serious commitment to supporting the fishing industry and rural coastal communities.
Beyond marine infrastructure there have been significant initiatives to enhance the supply chain in order to ensure the value of seafood landed in Ireland can be enhanced and developed to meet key market needs. Under my Department’s EMFF Seafood Development Programme there were a number of exploratory projects primarily through the Seafood Processing Innovation Scheme and capital supports for onshore facilities and processing enterprises. In 2022, I announced the €45 million Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme which has provided the opportunity for processors to expand on these previous initiatives and enhance the capacity, efficiency and value added focus of their facilities in order to attract new sources of raw material.
These strategic investments combined will make Ireland an attractive proposition for the landing of seafood, enhance Ireland’s reputation as a centre of excellence for seafood and create employment opportunities in coastal communities.
292. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will publish by-catch figures in Irish waters by fish species for each of the years 2015 to 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26882/23]
View answerThe term “by-catch” describes the unintentional catching of unwanted fish, and other marine creatures, during a commercial fishing activity targeting a different species.
It is now illegal to discard any species covered by the Landing Obligation, other than permitted exemptions, and all landings, including unwanted by-catches, must be recorded in the logbook and are counted against the national quota.
During the years specified by the Deputy (2015 to 2023), there have been a number of instances where restrictive, by-catch only TACs (Total Allowable Catches), have been set for some stocks. This prevents targeting of vulnerable stocks, while allowing for unavoidable by-catches of these stocks in mixed fisheries.
In addition, a small Bluefin Tuna by-catch quota is available to Ireland, primarily for use in our important Northern Albacore Tuna fishery and Celtic Sea Herring fishery, where there can be Bluefin Tuna by-catch.
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is responsible for the collection of catch and landings data and therefore I have asked the SFPA to reply directly to the Deputy with figures for these by-catch stocks.
293. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will publish the volume of fish discards, by species in each of the years 2015 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26883/23]
View answerThe Landing Obligation, or Discards Ban, was introduced on a phased basis beginning in 2015 and has been fully implemented since 2019. It is illegal to discard any species covered by the Landing Obligation, other than permitted exemptions. These exemptions are fish species covered by a high survivability exemption, a de minimis exemption, fish which has been damaged by predators, prohibited species and species not managed under the TAC & Quota system.
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is responsible for the collection of catch and landings data and therefore I have referred the Deputy's request to the SFPA for attention and direct reply.
294. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will publish the value and volume of fish by species landed in Ireland; if he will provide a breakdown, separately, of the value and volume of that same fish processed in Ireland for each of the years 2015 to 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26884/23]
View answerThe Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is responsible for the collection of landings data. I have referred the Deputy's request for information on the value and volume of fish by species landed into Ireland to the SFPA for attention and direct reply.
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) publishes its "Business of Seafood" report annually, which provides a snapshot of Ireland's seafood sector. The publication includes a section on Seafood Processing. As BIM compiles the relevant data, I have forwarded the Deputy's query on fish processing to BIM for attention and direct response.
295. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on current negotiations and his Department's approach to negotiations with the EU institutions on The Fisheries Control Regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26885/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the European Parliament and the EU Council reached provisional political agreement on the proposal to amend the Fisheries Control Regulation on 30th May 2023.
Council Regulation 1224/2009, known as the Control Regulation, establishes a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and establishing a level-playing field across the EU on fisheries control.
In 2018, the Commission adopted a proposal to amend the Control Regulation. The main provisions of the proposal cover enforcement, sanctions, Remote Electronic Monitoring (such as CCTV cameras on board vessels), data management (vessel tracking and reporting, weighing and transport of catches), control of recreational fisheries, control of the landing obligation, monitoring of engine power, alignment with existing policies and illegal, unreported and unregulated fisheries.
The Council agreed its negotiating position, known as the "General Approach", on the proposal in June 2021. The Council's General Approach took on board a number of Ireland's key concerns, including retaining the derogation allowing for weighing of catch away from the quayside under certain conditions, and the application of a rigorous control plan. I am supportive of many of the proposed changes in the proposal that strengthen the EU arrangements for control, inspection and enforcement. Given the control obligations that Ireland has in respect of all vessels operating in our 200 mile zone, it is essential that the proposal creates a workable and fair system.
Trilateral negotiations involving the EU Council, the European Parliament and the Commission have been ongoing since July 2021 and, as advised already, provisional political agreement between the Parliament and the Council was reached on 30th May 2023. The final agreed text has not yet been published and my Department will analyse this once it is available. The Parliament and Council will have to formally adopt the new regulation before it can enter into force.
My Department has been intensely engaged in these negotiations since the outset in order to protect Ireland's interests and priorities and ensure a level-playing field on control issues.
296. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a full list of public bodies under the aegis of his Department; and Oireachtas contact details for each. [26905/23]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is laid out in the attached table.
|
Name of State Body |
Oireachtas contact details |
|
Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board |
Oireachtasqueries@alab.ie |
|
Bord Iascaigh Mhara |
Oireachtas.queries@bim.ie |
|
Marine Institute |
Oireachtas.queries@marine.ie |
|
Sea Fisheries Protection Authority |
oireachtasqueries@sfpa.ie |
|
Greyhound Racing Ireland (Rásaíocht Con Éireann ) |
oireachtasqueries@grireland.ie |
|
Horse Racing Ireland |
oireachtas@horseracingireland.ie |
|
Irish National Stud |
pq@irishnationalstud.ie |
|
Bord Bia |
info@bordbia.ie |
|
Coillte |
info@coillte.ie |
|
National Milk Agency |
oireachtas@natmilk.ie |
|
Teagasc |
Oireachtas@Teagasc.ie |
|
Veterinary Council of Ireland |
info@vci.ie |
297. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds microchipped with the Irish Coursing Club and entered on the Irish Stud Book between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022, that were born in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27017/23]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
The ICC has informed this Department that there were 8311 non-coursing greyhounds born in 2022 and microchipped and entered on the Irish Stud Book between 1st January 2022 and 31st December 2022.
298. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans he has to make provision for a Traveller culture and heritage safeguarding strategy; if he will allocate funding for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26886/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, In March 2017 the Irish State recognised Travellers as a distinct ethnic group in Irish society. By taking this step, Ireland has shown its determination to value and preserve the unique culture, identity and heritage of Travellers in this country, and to overcoming the legacy of marginalisation and discrimination that the community has experienced.
Building on this milestone, the Irish Government remains committed to improving the lives of the Traveller and Roma Communities in Ireland. The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) is a whole of Government approach to bring about meaningful change and progress for the Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland. It brings Government Departments and agencies together along with representatives of both Traveller and Roma communities to bring a focus to the issues, which affect them most in a structured way. The NTRIS contains 149 actions, grouped under ten themes including Cultural Identity; Education; Employment; Health and Accommodation.
The current focus of Government is the development of the next iteration of the NTRIS, which will seek the views of a range of stakeholders to determine what should be included and prioritised in the successor to the current NITRIS. The successor NTRIS is expected to be published by end 2023.
While my Department has responsibility for central coordination of the NTRIS, each relevant Department has its own budget and is responsible for the implementation of its own commitments that impact upon Travellers and Roma, including in relation to culture, heritage and identity.
My Department has facilitated a number of projects to safeguard Traveller culture and heritage. Some examples include:
• Provision of funding to support the annual Traveller Pride Week, which enables the roll-out of national and local events. These events provide the Traveller and Roma Communities with an opportunity to promote Traveller culture, achievements and talents at both local and national level and celebrate that culture with the whole of Irish society as one community.
• In 2022, funding was provided to a publishing company, which worked directly with Traveller authors to help them develop and publish literature related to Traveller culture and experience; the aim of this initiative was to promote the inclusion of the Traveller community in the cultural life of Ireland. Further funding is being provided under this initiative in 2023.
• In September 2022, my Department committed funding to the University of Galway in respect of a Traveller cultural programme which formed part of the meeting of the Council of Europe Expert Committee on Traveller Issues, ADI-ROM, held in the University.
299. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE allocations for Dungarvan children's disability network team, the Waterford city north team and the Waterford city south team; the number of WTE posts vacant on 1 April 2023, broken down by discipline, in tabular form; the current caseload numbers for the teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26904/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
300. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the HSE has not yet approved funding for a person (details supplied); when it is expected to be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26926/23]
View answerAs this PQ refers to an individuals case, I am referring it to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
