Written Answers Nos. 908-922
908. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department has taken to honour the programme for Government pledge to ensure that Government Departments and public bodies take positive steps, including the use of correct pronouns and, where possible, making improvements on official forms, to assist non-binary people. [35822/23]
View answerMy Department's current Statement of Strategy 2021-2024 sets out as one of our core values "A strong commitment to diversity, inclusion and the fair and equal treatment of all."
My Department recognises that the more diverse and representative our work force is, the more it truly reflects and represents our communities and our wide variety of stakeholders. A diverse workforce brings creative thinking, a broader range of ideas and reflection, stimulating and robust team discussion, which ultimately leads to more inclusive and holistic decision making and policy formation.
These core values are important for our own employees, for the clients and stakeholders of the Department who avail of our wide range of services and for our sector as a whole.
I am committed to promoting and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace for all its employees and the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion policy launched in 2018 reinforces our core values in these areas. My Department has an active Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advocacy team and a Gender Equality Steering Group whose work includes ensuring that appropriate actions are taken to ensure non-binary people feel welcome and valued in my Department.
My Department also has an active LGBTI+ staff network in place. I understand that a number of my colleagues attended webinars during the month of June which were facilitated by OneLearning (the Civil Service Learning and Development Network). These Webinars included education around the correct use of pronouns and language around LGBTI+ and inclusion.
For anyone contemplating working in my Department and those already here, all competition documents and application forms have been reviewed to be as inclusive as possible. All recruits and staff can be assured that my Department embraces an environment where each person can be their authentic self at work, be treated equally and fairly and have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution towards business goals. This includes the option of specifying preferred pronouns in email signatures and other official correspondence. Overall, my Department supports all employees to realise their full potential in a safe and positive work environment.
For customers of my Department under the CAP Strategic plan my Department is obliged to report on a variety of gender categories including non-binary. A pop-up has been developed to update the following individual customer information; Name, Address, Eircode & Gender when our customers next interact with AgFood.ie. There is now the capability to record a variety of gender categories within my Department's Corporate Customer System and the customer account update pop-up will be deployed shortly.
910. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail any funding or grant aid provided to the Dairy Council of Ireland since 2015 to date from his Department or the Government; the amounts spent by his Department or the Government in support of the processing and marketing of agricultural products, such as capital investment schemes since 2015; the amount of funding provided to Bord Bia since 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35864/23]
View answer926. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail the funding to the Dairy Council since 2015, in tabular form; to outline under the specific headings that this funding was dispersed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36345/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 910 and 926 together.
The National Dairy Council (NDC) is a private farmer-funded representative body in the agri-food sector. It is not not a State Body.
Financial records in my Department indicate that in the period 2015 to 2022, the following payments were made to the NDC:
EU School Scheme: These payments to the NDC relate to their status, since the school year 2017/2018, as an Aid Applicant under the EU School Milk Scheme. Such payments made to the NDC are made in arrears, on application, on a recoupment basis for eligible expenditure as outlined in the Regulation(s), accompanied by the required supporting documentation. Payments are made from EU funds from the annual financial allocation made available by the EU to Ireland with supporting national funds as made available by the Exchequer. The table below reflects both the EU and national funds.
|
Year |
Payments to NDC € |
|
2017 |
225,000 |
|
2018 |
826,365 |
|
2019 |
1,214,664 |
|
2020 |
1,107,440 |
|
2021 |
934,353 |
|
2022 |
1,043,527 |
EU Milk Promotion: These payments represent funds made available on a competitive basis by the EU to eligible organisations in the Member States for multi-country programmes (typically three years) promoting dairy on the internal market. The NDC is one such organisation. Supporting national funding was made available as was required under the Regulations at that time. Three such programmes were running in the relevant years.
|
Year |
Payments to NDC € |
|
2015 |
269,589 |
|
2016 |
184,285 |
|
2017 |
234,773 |
|
2018 |
161,413 |
|
2019 |
24,185 |
EU Exceptional Aid to the Dairy Sector: An EU Exceptional Aid Scheme for the dairy and pig sectors was introduced by the EU Commission in recognition of the difficulties in those sectors and as a short term market stabilisation mechanism. As part of that measure, in 2016, the NDC received a payment for associated promotional work.
|
year |
payment to NDC € |
|
2016 |
30,000 |
Payments to the NDC did not include any funding for capital investment schemes.
I am not aware of any association the NDC may have with other Government Departments.
912. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of tree planting applications approved by his Department from 2020 to date, by year, in tabular form. [35872/23]
View answerThe new and ambitious €1.3bn Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will replace the previous Programme which expired at the end of 2022. The new Programme will benefit farmers, rural communities and the overall climate and environment.
Subject to State Aid approval from the European Commission and the completion of the ongoing Strategic Environmental Assessment/Appropriate Assessment (SEA/AA) process, this will support the largest, most farmer-friendly investment in forestry in the history of the State. This funding will provide unprecedented incentives to encourage the planting of trees that can provide a valuable addition to farm income and also to help meet our national climate and biodiversity objectives.
While we await State Aid approval only licences for non-grant-aided afforestation licences can be approved. This is reflected in the number approved year to date in the table below:
|
Year |
Afforestation licences issued |
Hectares |
|
2020 |
528 |
4,342 |
|
2021 |
502 |
4,246 |
|
2022 |
702 |
4,972 |
|
2023 |
10 (non-grant aided) |
140 |
In recognition of the need for forestry activity to continue, and pending the launch of the new Programme, my Department engaged with the Commission last December to secure an interim solution which has led to the introduction of an Interim Afforestation Scheme. This ensured that those with valid afforestation licences issued before the end of 2022 could avail of the current planting season under the higher grant and premium rates proposed under the new Programme. Under the Interim De Minimis scheme, 288 afforestation applications, have been approved, representing 1,750 hectares.
Afforestation applications that were applied for before 31 December, 2022 and which are not yet decided, are continuing to be processed with the aim that they can transition into the new Programme once it opens.
I would like to assure the Deputy that the receipt of formal State Aid approval and the launch of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 is a matter of the utmost priority for my Department.
913. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action is being taken by his Department to ensure that the phone app AgriSnap, developed by his Department to streamline the submission of scoreboards under the new agri-climate rural environment scheme, is fit for purpose in view of recent technical issues with the app; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35912/23]
View answerThere is significant interest in the ACRES scheme which demonstrated the enthusiasm and desire of farmers to enhance the environmental sustainability of their enterprises and I was pleased to be in a position to accept all valid applications submitted in Tranche 1. There are accordingly some 46,000 farmers currently participating in ACRES.
A key feature of ACRES is the introduction of a results-based system that rewards farmers for committed environmental effort by linking payments to the quality of environmental outcomes delivered.
All of the lands, which attract a result-based payment, have to be assessed (‘scored’) over the summer months in Years 1, 3 and 5 of the participant’s contract, by approved ACRES advisors, who have completed the mandatory in-field scorecard training. The lands of those who were approved into the Scheme under Tranche 1 therefore need to be scored this year.
AgriSnap is my Department's geotagged photograph application (app) for use on smartphones. AgriSnap enables users to take geotagged photographs using their smartphone and submit them securely to my Department in an efficient and secure manner. A geotagged photograph is one that contains the GPS location co-ordinates of the position of where the photo was captured. The location information (latitude/longitude co-ordinates) is stored in the properties of the photo and allows my Department to locate the photo to an agricultural parcel. The AgriSnap mobile app was adapted to enable advisors score parcels on site and submit the scores electronically.
For ACRES it was launched in early June and scorecards continue to be submitted on it every day. My Department released an update to the AgriSnap app in mid-June 2023 to resolve issues identified in feedback from users and we remain in regular contact with users to resolve any issues as they arise.
914. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a schedule of additional animal welfare measures he and-or his Department have put in place in respect of live export of animals since 1 January 2020 to date in 2023; and if he will provide an update in respect of the tracing of live exports from this State to other states in order to ensure animals are kept in the best condition and welfare possible on their journey. [35933/23]
View answerIn 2019 and early 2020 my Department rolled out additional policy measures on animal welfare during transport, which go beyond those laid down in EU rules. These changes impact all livestock transports, but particularly the intracommunity trade in unweaned calves.
These changes include:
Increased minimum space allowances for calves, e.g., 11% extra space for calves of 55kg, over that prescribed in EU rules.
Veterinary Inspectors are instructed not to accept journey logs when forecasted temperatures equal or exceed 30°C en-route at time of transport. Department HQ officials monitor forecasts in Europe in summer and winter months, issuing guidance to Regional Veterinary Offices and industry up to three times weekly.
All use of sticks on calves is banned in assembly centres.
Policy of not approving transport of very small calves below 40kg bodyweight on long journeys.
The re-training period for drivers to retain their certificate of competence has been reduced from 10 years to 3 years. Driver behaviour is a major influence on animal welfare during transport.
In 2019 a booking system for unweaned calves was introduced to avoid overcrowding control posts in Cherbourg.
Unannounced accompaniment of calf consignments to Cherbourg by official veterinarians occurs during the peak transport season (Spring) to monitor the welfare of Irish calves during transport.
In addition, all vehicles transporting livestock to Europe are required by EU law to be fitted with working satellite navigation systems and temperature recorders, and these can be used to trace the progress of the animals during retrospective checks, carried out after the journey, on a risk basis, by regional veterinary offices.
915. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of WTE vacancies by job title in his Department's laboratory at Backweston as of 12 July 2023; the estimated full year cost filling these vacancies; and when will these vacancies be filled, in tabular form. [35953/23]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is committed to ensuring that a skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet its business needs and utilises workforce planning to identify and address these requirements for all our locations.
Recruitment is ongoing in the Department at present, and posts continue to be advertised either by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) or by my Department's Human Resources Division.
I am conscious of the need for a prompt and efficient delivery of services and, to that end, all critical staffing vacancies are filled as soon as possible upon candidates becoming available.
The Department’s Laboratories in Backweston currently has a total of 21 vacancies and work is actively ongoing to fill these posts along with all vacancies around the country. Assignments are expected to be completed across a range of grades in the immediate future.
The detailed information requested is provided in the table below.
|
Grade |
Number of Vacancies |
Salary Scale (PPC) |
|
Agricultural Inspector (Analytical Chemist) |
1 |
€70,134 - €98164 LSI2 |
|
Lab Analyst |
10 |
€37,009 - €62,105 LSI1 |
|
Lab Attendant |
2 |
€25,769 - €36,027 LSI2 |
|
Quality Manager |
1 |
€64,361 - €85,213 LSI2 |
|
Research Officer |
2 |
€63,602.00 - €109,425.00 LSI2 |
|
Supervisory Agricultural Officer |
1 |
€42,378.00 - €61,843.00 LSI2 |
|
Senior Lab Analyst |
2 |
€55,970 - €65,390 NMAX |
|
Serological Assistant |
1 |
€31,886 - €49,957 LSI1 |
|
Specialist Lab Attendant |
1 |
€31,281 - €41,816 |
917. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a scheme or support is available from his Department to replant ash when die back is present (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36012/23]
View answer935. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36511/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 917 and 935 together.
I am pleased to advise that the Reconstitution Scheme for Ash Dieback 2023-2027 was launched on 24 July 2023 as part of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027. The circular, scheme documents and application forms are available on the Department's website www.gov.ie/forestry. An application for support under this Scheme must be submitted by a Registered Forester and will need to be accompanied by a harvest plan and harvest plan map.
The scheme is subject to an ongoing Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA) process, which is well advanced. We will process applications as they are received and approvals will issue once the SEA and AA processes have been completed.
918. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the forestry section will follow up on a recommendation (details supplied). [36016/23]
View answerMy Department has a process for following up on alleged illegal forestry activity and the case in question is under active consideration.
919. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to report on measures he will take to ensure that all marts are fully compliant with animal welfare regulations and standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36019/23]
View answerIn order to operate a livestock mart, a licence granted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) following application by the operator must be in place, in accordance with the Animal Health and Welfare (Livestock Marts) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 128 of 2018). Marts must be operated in accordance with the Animal Health and Welfare Act of 2013 (No. 15 of 2013). The granting of a licence to operate a livestock mart is granted to a mart only after satisfactory outcome of inspection by authorised officers of my Department.
Authorised officers of my Department carry out risk-based inspections at marts to determine compliance with legislative requirements related to animal health and welfare and the correct recording of animal movements. Marts who have been seen to be non-compliant in one or more areas, are required to take corrective action and will be subjected to further inspections. While a licence to operate a livestock mart is generally granted for a term of three years, where breaches of the mart regulations are identified, my Department may take enforcement action which can include attaching specific conditions to the licence, issuing of a shorter term licence of three months to one year duration, or suspension or revocation of the mart’s licence to operate.
Separately, persons who are in control/charge of or handling animals, at marts as elsewhere, are required to ensure the welfare of animals and if found deficient in this regard may be subject to sanction, up to and including prosecution, as appropriate.
My Department will continue its commitment to regular ongoing inspections to ensure that animal welfare standards are in accordance with legislative requirements.
920. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline what actions he will take following a programme (details supplied) exposing appalling cruelty to animals at a number of marts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36114/23]
View answerI strongly condemn the shocking practices which were shown in the RTE Investigates, Prime Time programme. My Department have requested RTÉ provide all of the footage available, and any other information it has, so my Department can investigate the matter fully and take appropriate action.
I am unable to comment on individual cases which are under investigation.
921. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of inspections carried out by Department inspectors at each mart over the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36115/23]
View answerThe table below outlines the number of livestock mart inspections conducted by authorised officers of my Department over the past five years.
|
Marts |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 to date |
Total inspections over 5 years |
|
Abbeyfeale - Golden Vale Marts |
5 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
17 |
|
Ardee - Kieran & McGee Auctioneers |
6 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
14 |
|
Athenry |
9 |
9 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
24 |
|
Balla - Connacht Gold Co-Op Mart |
8 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
0 |
34 |
|
Ballina Mart |
6 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
1 |
28 |
|
Ballinakill |
2 |
7 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
15 |
|
Ballinasloe |
8 |
7 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
18 |
|
Ballinrobe - Connacht Gold Co-Op |
17 |
17 |
14 |
11 |
0 |
59 |
|
Ballybay - Corcoran C.A & D.S Ltd |
20 |
4 |
1 |
20 |
4 |
49 |
|
Ballybofey & Stranlor |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
10 |
|
Ballyjamesduff |
7 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
3 |
17 |
|
Ballymahon - Longford Westmeath |
7 |
6 |
9 |
8 |
1 |
31 |
|
Ballymoate - Connacht Gold Co-Op |
14 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
34 |
|
Ballyshannon |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
|
Baltinglass – Kinsella Estates |
15 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
27 |
|
Bandon - Cork Marts |
14 |
41 |
1 |
17 |
7 |
80 |
|
Birr |
11 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
3 |
30 |
|
Blessington Mart |
6 |
11 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
24 |
|
Borris Mart Leinster Mart |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
12 |
|
Brockagh |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
|
C.A Lovett |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Cahersiveen – Iveragh Co-Op |
1 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
|
Cahir – Cork Marts |
11 |
8 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
25 |
|
Carlow Leinster Marts |
6 |
12 |
2 |
6 |
4 |
30 |
|
Carnaross - Gunnes Auctioneers |
33 |
20 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
64 |
|
Carndonagh - Inishowen Co-Op Mart |
0 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
|
Carnew |
17 |
12 |
10 |
15 |
4 |
58 |
|
Carrick on Shannon |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
|
Carrigallen – Golden Vale |
11 |
9 |
10 |
8 |
0 |
38 |
|
Cashel Mart |
9 |
6 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
19 |
|
Castleblaney |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Castleisland |
20 |
18 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
46 |
|
Castlerea |
5 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
13 |
|
Cavan |
5 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
14 |
|
Clifden |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
Clones Mart |
7 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
|
Coolaney |
8 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
21 |
|
Cootehill |
0 |
0 |
3 |
9 |
6 |
18 |
|
Delvin |
13 |
4 |
6 |
11 |
7 |
41 |
|
Dingle |
15 |
23 |
8 |
7 |
3 |
56 |
|
Donegal |
2 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
10 |
|
Dowra |
8 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
7 |
26 |
|
Dromcollogher Golden Vale Mart |
3 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
10 |
|
Drumshambo |
13 |
10 |
12 |
8 |
1 |
44 |
|
Dungarvin - Cork Marts |
10 |
17 |
2 |
11 |
0 |
40 |
|
Edenderry |
6 |
3 |
7 |
9 |
3 |
28 |
|
Elphin |
13 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
23 |
|
Ennis Mart |
20 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
1 |
44 |
|
Enniscorthy - Wexford Co-Op Sales |
9 |
9 |
9 |
12 |
6 |
45 |
|
Fermoy - Cork Marts |
10 |
10 |
8 |
19 |
12 |
59 |
|
Gort |
13 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
21 |
|
Gortatlea |
23 |
33 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
63 |
|
Granard |
14 |
5 |
9 |
11 |
1 |
40 |
|
Headford |
11 |
9 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
24 |
|
Kanturk |
10 |
10 |
5 |
13 |
16 |
54 |
|
Kenmare |
6 |
14 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
27 |
|
Kilcullen - Leinster |
7 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
16 |
|
Kilfenora |
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
8 |
|
Kilkenny |
22 |
22 |
0 |
10 |
3 |
57 |
|
Kilmallock - Golden Vale Mart |
12 |
29 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
51 |
|
Kilrush Mart |
7 |
8 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
23 |
|
Kingscourt - Keenan Auctioneers |
18 |
3 |
1 |
9 |
6 |
37 |
|
Listowel |
18 |
20 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
48 |
|
Loughrea |
8 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
14 |
|
Maam Cross |
9 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
19 |
|
Macroom - Cork Marts |
14 |
39 |
1 |
14 |
16 |
84 |
|
Manorhamilton |
11 |
8 |
10 |
3 |
1 |
33 |
|
Millford |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
|
Milltown Mart |
6 |
10 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
21 |
|
Mohill - Connacht Gold Co-Op |
6 |
5 |
8 |
3 |
0 |
22 |
|
Mountbellew Mart |
4 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
11 |
|
Nenagh |
8 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
18 |
|
Newport |
6 |
3 |
0 |
11 |
6 |
26 |
|
Newross - Waterford Ross Mart |
15 |
12 |
14 |
16 |
8 |
65 |
|
Portumna |
6 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
|
Raphoe |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
|
Roscommon mart |
12 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
24 |
|
Roscrea |
16 |
8 |
2 |
12 |
8 |
46 |
|
Scariff Mart |
2 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
9 |
|
Sixmilebridge |
13 |
7 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
31 |
|
Skibbereen - Cork Marts |
16 |
24 |
6 |
18 |
10 |
74 |
|
Templemore |
9 |
5 |
1 |
10 |
8 |
33 |
|
Thurles |
7 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
19 |
|
Tipperary Town –Donovan |
7 |
6 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
20 |
|
Tralee |
3 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
17 |
|
Tuam |
9 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
16 |
|
Tullamore |
22 |
7 |
13 |
12 |
5 |
59 |
|
Tullow |
11 |
13 |
11 |
12 |
3 |
50 |
|
Station Road |
16 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
18 |
|
Grand Total |
831 |
711 |
317 |
495 |
214 |
2568 |
In order to operate a livestock mart, a licence granted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) following application by the operator must be in place, in accordance with the Animal Health and Welfare (Livestock Marts) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 128 of 2018). Marts must be operated in accordance with the Animal Health and Welfare Act of 2013 (No. 15 of 2013). The granting of a licence to operate a livestock mart is granted to a mart only after satisfactory outcome of inspection by authorised officers of my Department.
Authorised officers of my Department carry out risk-based inspections at marts to determine compliance with legislative requirements related to animal health and welfare and the correct recording of animal movements. Marts who have been seen to be non-compliant in one or more areas, are required to take corrective action and will be subjected to further inspections. While a licence to operate a livestock mart is generally granted for a term of three years, where breaches of the mart regulations are identified, my Department may take enforcement action which can include attaching specific conditions to the licence, issuing of a shorter term licence of three months to one year duration, or suspension or revocation of the mart’s licence to operate.
Separately, persons who are in control/charge of or handling animals, at marts, as elsewhere, are required to ensure the welfare of animals and if found deficient in this regard may be subject to sanction, up to and including prosecution, as appropriate.
My Department will continue its commitment to regular ongoing inspections to ensure that animal welfare standards are in accordance with legislative requirements.
