Written Answers Nos. 564-577
564. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will commit to ending the nitrates derogation in light of its negative environmental impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34734/23]
View answerThe Nitrates directive set down strict scientific criteria in respect to the provision of a Nitrates derogation which include;
• long growing seasons,
• crops with high nitrogen uptake,
• high net precipitation in the vulnerable zone,
• soils with exceptionally high denitrification capacity.
Ireland’s unique grass-based livestock production systems, our climate and our soils allow Ireland justify a nitrates derogation in respect of the above conditions.
In 2022 Ireland secured an extension to our nitrates derogation covering the period to 2025. As part of this process the European Commission attached increased conditionality. Ireland’s nitrates derogation allows farmers operate above a maximum stocking rate of 170 kg of livestock manure nitrogen per hectare subject to compliance with stricter environmental conditions.
Last year also saw the introduction of Ireland’s 5th Nitrates Action Programme. Under that Programme, the scope of some existing measures was broadened, other measures were expanded, and a number of new measures were introduced to drive improvements in water quality. These changes were introduced for farmers in 2022 and earlier this year, however these changes require time to demonstrate their full impact.
Environment Protection Agency data shows nutrient levels remain too high in many of our waters. As a State, we all have to work together to reduce the levels of nutrients in our water. This responsibility extends to farmers, but it also extends to private dwellings on septic tanks as well as Uisce Eireann who are also investing to improve water quality.
I believe it’s appropriate to adopt a science-based approach, targeting the right action in the right place to drive improvements in water quality and support delivery of our overall environmental ambitions, including maintaining Ireland's nitrates derogation.
565. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications that have been received to date for the farm safety scheme. [34843/23]
View answerThe €1.5m National Farm Safety Measure 2023, funded from the National Exchequer, incentivises the purchase and use of quad bike helmets and PTO shaft covers which will help protect farmers and everyone involved in operating PTO-powered equipment and quad bikes on farms from serious and fatal injuries.
The Measure also increases awareness of the risks on farms due to unprotected or inadequately protected PTO shafts and the operation of quads without the appropriate PPE and training.
To date my Department has received almost 300 expressions of interest. The facility for submitting payment claims will be available shortly on AgFood and claims can be submitted up to 29th September 2023. I am urging farmers to avail of this measure and make their farms safer.
My Department continues to engage with all stakeholders to improve farm safety, health and wellbeing on our farms. The number of deaths and injuries on Irish farms is too high and we need to continue to take steps to effect behaviour change and ensure that incident levels are reduced.
566. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has had discussions with the European Commission on the nitrates derogation, following the publication of the EPA water quality report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34844/23]
View answerThe Environment Protection Agency (EPA) "Water quality monitoring report on nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in Irish waters 2022" was submitted to the European Commission on 30 June in accordance with the conditionality set down in the Commission's Implementing Decision granting Ireland's current Nitrates Derogation.
The report was subsequently published on both the EPA and my Department’s websites.
When submitting the report, my Officials requested a meeting with the Commission Services. My officials had also engaged with Commission services in advance of the report's availability.
567. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of personnel in his Department at Principal Officer level or above who, on retiring from that position, were subsequently appointed to a State or semi-State board over the past ten years. [34916/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is attached in tabular form, this information is limited to the number of staff from my Department, at Principal Officer level or above who, on retiring from that position, were subsequently appointed to a State Board under the remit of my Department. My Department does not keep data on the subsequent employment of retirees in other State Boards or any other employment.
|
State Body |
Number of retired DAFM staff appointed to DAFM Board since 2013 |
|
Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board |
Nil |
|
Bord Iascaigh Mhara |
Nil |
|
Marine Institute |
Nil |
|
Sea Fisheries Protection Authority |
Nil |
|
Rásaíocht Con Éireann |
One |
|
Horse Racing Ireland |
Nil |
|
Irish National Stud |
Nil |
|
Bord Bia |
One |
|
Coillte |
Nil |
|
National Milk Agency |
Nil |
|
Teagasc |
Nil |
|
Veterinary Council of Ireland |
Nil |
568. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a breakdown on the amount of funds Coillte Teoranta has invested in the maintenance and upkeep of the Western Way walking route in the properties under their control from Sralagagh West, Ballycastle Forest, through Sheskin Forest, Nephin Beg and other forest properties south to Leenaun from January 2018 to date, in tabular form. [34977/23]
View answerCoillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and is operationally independent from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I have referred the matter to Coillte for direct follow-up with the Deputy.
569. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the next open call for funding for European Innovation Partnership will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34979/23]
View answerEuropean Innovation Partnership (EIP-agri) projects are a successful vehicle for interested parties – farmers, scientists, etc. – to collaborate on a particular issue, trialling solutions on the ground. Last December, my Department held an open call for proposals for a nationwide European Innovation Partnership (EIP-agri) project to deal with issues of losses of nutrients to water. I hope to shortly announce the successful applicant.
This EIP is a collaboration between my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and following-on from this, both Departments are currently developing another EIP, on which I will have more information later this year.
In addition to this, my Department recently held a public consultation seeking themes for potential future EIPs. We are currently reviewing the responses received. Themes arising from this consultation and those already included in the CAP Strategic Plan will be the focus of open calls for proposals across the current programming period. My Department is aiming to open a call, on a theme or themes to be decided, in the third quarter this year.
570. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can furnish a person (details supplied) with all documents which prove that their late spouse opted out of the spouse's and children's pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35030/23]
View answerI understand that my officials are currently looking into this request. My officials will also liaise with the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) on this matter, as the NSSO has responsibility for the payment of pensions to former civil servants.
I would like to assure the Deputy one of my staff will contact the person directly to assist with this matter.
571. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the pelagic fishing industry in Ireland will receive financial compensation for the huge loss of fish quota that they have endured under the Brexit Reserve Adjustment Fund. [35143/23]
View answerThe Seafood Task Force recommended a series of 16 mitigation measures that could be taken to provide supports for development and restructuring in order to ensure a profitable and sustainable fishing fleet and to identify opportunities for jobs and economic activity in coastal communities dependent on fishing. Recognising the volume of these recommendations, the Task Force acknowledged that the development of detailed schemes and submission for EU State aid approval could only be approached on a phased basis. To date I have announced 12 support schemes with a combined budget of €271 million, addressing time sensitive measures and those with longer implementation times as a priority.
The Task Force recommendations concerning the pelagic fleet segment have been examined and based on these recommendations a scheme has been drafted and approved at national level. The scheme has now been submitted to the European Commission for State Aid decision. The scheme can only be launched following a positive outcome from this State Aid assessment, and until this process is complete I cannot provide a specific time frame for its launch.
572. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware and concerned about the Coillte practice of sending native seeds to the Netherlands, where these seeds develop into saplings and are then purchased and imported back into Ireland by Coillte, running the risk of contamination and the importation of diseases into Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35136/23]
View answerCoillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and is operationally independent from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I have referred the matter to Coillte for direct follow-up with the Deputy.
However, my Department is aware of the practice of sale of seed to growers in the Netherlands. Contract growing is a fairly common practice and involves the movement of seed to another EU Member State to be grown, with the resulting plants returned to the country of origin. The practice described requires compliance with two different legislative strands, the EU Council Directive 1999/105/EC on the marketing of forest reproductive material and the EU Plant Health Regulation EU 2016/2031. Through the Forest Reproductive Material (FRM) Directive, Master Certificates of Provenance are issued by my Department for seed collections for forestry purposes and under the legislation the officially registered supplier of the seed or plants in all Member States must issue a ‘Suppliers Document’ for the movement of forest reproductive material from Member State to Member State.
In addition, all plants for planting moving within the EU must be accompanied by a valid Plant Passport. A Plant Passport is an official statement issued by the Professional Operator under the authorisation of the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO), indicating to the receiving NPPO and others a clean plant health status for the regulated plants and plant products. In this case, a Plant Passport which is appropriate for Ireland’s Protected Zones, depending on species being traded, is required.
Further to this, under S.I. 310 of 2021 it is required for several trees species that the consignment must be notified to the Minister in writing as soon as practicable and no later than 48 hours after arrival into the State, so that the Department can organise official controls to prevent the potential spread of any destructive pests and diseases.
573. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the assessment of the need for dredging of Howth Harbour, which his Department has completed; and if he will indicate his plans for the undertaking of needed work over the coming years. [35276/23]
View answerHowth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute.
My Department has plans for significant investment in a dredging and reclamation project for Howth Fishery Harbour Centre. The key objective of the project is to broaden the accessibility and navigability of the basin at Howth for all users and to re-use the material recovered from the seabed to create a new area of public realm. The land reclamation will provide a mix of recreational public access green areas, slipway access to the water for small craft and provide areas for business, harbour operations and transport. The ambitious and innovative project aims to integrate social, environmental and sustainability benefits to the community. Public consultation was held online during Covid-19 restrictions and the information page remains available online: gov.ie - Howth Harbour Dredging (www.gov.ie).
Planning permission for the development was issued by Fingal County Council on 5th August 2022. A third party appeal was subsequently lodged with An Bord Pleanála on 30th Aug 2022 and my Department is currently awaiting a decision. If the appeal decision is in favour of the development, my Department seek to secure any other consents required and proceed with procurement for the project.
574. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds who were microchipped and registered in the Irish Stud Book whose year of birth was 2021, reminding him that Rásaiocht Con Éireann has the power to request this information from the lrish Coursing Club under Section 26 (1) of the Greyhound lndustry Act 1958; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35284/23]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the competent authority with regard to the maintenance of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book. The ICC has been responsible for the Irish Greyhound Stud Book since 1923 and this was further underpinned by the enactment of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958.
Microdog ID is a limited liability company that is a subsidiary of the ICC but is approved by my Department as a microchipping database and operates independently from the ICC.
The information requested is not readily available and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
575. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in light of the fact that in 2018 an organisation (details supplied) published beef carcass conformation data for 2015, 2016 and 2017, he will furnish the corresponding data for 2018 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35406/23]
View answerMy Department publishes an annual report each year on Beef Carcase Classification and Price Reporting.
All reports up to and including 2023, are available on the Departments website at;
gov.ie - EU Beef Carcase Classification Scheme (www.gov.ie).
These reports give a detailed annual overview of beef carcass classification results, by category of animal, for all cattle slaughtered in the 33 factories that classify beef.
576. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will furnish data on the percentage of dairy-first crosses being used in the suckler herd and their average replacement index, for each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35407/23]
View answerThe Replacement Index is part of ICBF’s Euro-Star Index system. It is a tool used by suckler farmers to breed/select more profitable replacement females. It comprises cost of production traits such as calving difficulty and cow liveweight as well as output traits such as milk and carcass weight.
When used properly, the selection of animals using the Replacement Index will result in more efficient suckler cows with more milk and fertility whilst also producing superior offspring.
The data hereunder shows that the percentage trend has been relatively stable since 2013. On average, 23% were dairy x beef and 77% of suckler cows were beef x beef.
Current and historic information on dairy cross animals in the suckler herd is tabulated below.
|
YearCalving |
Total Suckler Cows Calved |
Count |
% of total |
Replacement Index |
|
2023* |
581,087 |
134,911 |
23.2 |
110.22 |
|
2022 |
822,940 |
188,294 |
22.9 |
105.09 |
|
2021 |
848,034 |
196,092 |
23.1 |
102.81 |
|
2020 |
858,582 |
199,451 |
23.2 |
100.95 |
|
2019 |
872,368 |
202,121 |
23.2 |
98.63 |
|
2018 |
899,578 |
206,953 |
23.0 |
96.29 |
|
2017 |
942,418 |
213,079 |
22.6 |
93.83 |
|
2016 |
958,486 |
212,656 |
22.2 |
91.89 |
|
2015 |
974,084 |
216,909 |
22.3 |
90.51 |
|
2014 |
946,205 |
215,135 |
22.7 |
89.74 |
|
2013 |
951,282 |
222,651 |
23.4 |
89.43 |
*Note: 2023 data is year-to-date.
577. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the incentives available for farmers and agri-food businesses to install solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35454/23]
View answerThe main support provided by my Department for farmers wishing to invest in renewable energy is under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS). It is referred to as the TAMS 3 Solar Capital Investment scheme. This was launched on 22 February 2023 and is proving to be a hugely successful scheme. The new TAMS 3 scheme is closely aligned to our climate and sustainability needs through continued and enhanced support for renewable energy.
• To help encourage on-farm renewable technology uptake and usage, grant aid is provided through TAMS to assist farmers in maximising their contribution to the production of renewable energy through the installation of solar panel technology along with battery storage on Irish farms.
• The solar scheme is ring fenced with its own investment ceiling of €90,000 and will be grant aided at the enhanced rate of 60%.
• Applicants under TAMS 3 can receive the Clean Export Guarantee payment for any electricity spill-over that may occur on a given day as this is funded directly by the electricity companies. However, they are not eligible for any other payment, such as the Clean Export Premium, as it would be double funding of the investment.
• Adoption of sustainable energy practices at farm level, including energy efficiency, deployment of renewables at farm level and the provision of agriculture feedstocks for renewable energy generation is a key climate pillar for the agriculture sector.
The on-farm renewable energy generation activities of our farmers will contribute to the de-carbonisation of the energy system, providing a diversification opportunity for farmers who remain committed to playing their part in achieving our national climate change emission reduction goals.
