Written Answers Nos. 1321-1340
1322. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the work of the Wool Council; to outline its terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38839/23]
View answerUnder the Programme for Government I undertook a review of the potential demand in domestic and international markets for wool and wool-based products and I delivered on this Programme for Government commitment with the publication of the Wool Review Report in July 2022.
The main recommendation of the Wool Review Report was that an independent Wool Council led by industry would be established. This independent Council would develop and promote Irish wool domestically and internationally and bring together multiple stakeholders to foster collaboration, innovation, and scaling activities in the wool sector.
The Irish Grown Wool Council was formed on 5 April 2023 and is an independent stakeholder-led Council. Members of the Council represent a wide range of different industries and interests from within the wool sector including educators, designers, crafters, farmers, wool merchants, sheep shearers as well as industry representatives and farming organisations.
The Irish Grown Wool Council's aim is to "Bring Wool stakeholders across the island of Ireland together to realise the potential of Irish Grown Wool as a natural, sustainable and versatile material, by building on its rich heritage, enhancing the understanding and appreciation of the characteristics of Irish grown wool, improving the quality and sustainability of Irish farmed wool, facilitating collaboration in product and market research and ultimately applying innovative product solutions."
The Wool Council intends to "Promote an Irish Grown Wool Brand both domestically and internationally. It is empowered to create and oversee structures designed to bring disparate groups together for collaboration, innovation and scaling activities.
The Council also established a Wool Research and Innovation Hub which is led by the Circular Bio-economy Cluster Southwest at MTU with members from a number of different Higher Education Institutions. The stated purpose of the Wool Research and Innovation Hub is "to bridge the gap between idea and execution through new product research and innovation, enhancing the perceived value of Irish wool
Further details regarding the Irish Grown Wool Council can be obtained directly from the Council by contacting irishgrownwoolcouncil@gmail.com.
1323. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts that are being taken to improve the price of wool and to build a market for Irish grown wool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38840/23]
View answerGaining access to new markets and opening new trading opportunities for Irish wool exports while simultaneously strengthening established export markets has been and remains an integral part of my Department's strategic approach to the development of the agrifood sector.
Under the Programme for Government I undertook a review of the potential demand in domestic and international markets for wool and wool based products and I delivered on this Programme for Government commitment with the publication of the Wool Review Report in July 2022.
The main recommendation of the Wool Review Report was that an independent Wool Council led by industry would be established. This independent Council would develop and promote Irish wool domestically and internationally and bring together multiple stakeholders to foster collaboration, innovation, and scaling activities in the wool sector.
The Independent Irish Grown Wool Council was officially launched on 5 April 2023. I am particularly pleased to see the coming together of independent stakeholders to form the Irish Grown Wool Council. Members of the Council represent a wide range of different industries and interests from within the wool sector including educators, designers, crafters, farmers, wool merchants, sheep shearers as well as industry representatives and farming organisations.
The Council intends to "Promote an Irish Grown Wool Brand both domestically and internationally. It is empowered to create and oversee structures designed to bring disparate groups together for collaboration, innovation and scaling activities"
I believe that the formation and ambitions of the Irish Grown Wool Council will help to improve Irish wool prices and develop markets for Irish wool products going forward.
Further details regarding the Irish Grown Wool Council can be obtained directly from the Council by contacting irishgrownwoolcouncil@gmail.com.
1324. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on three queries (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38883/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, in December 2018, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine announced that vessels over 18 metres would be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines from 1 January 2020. A transition period of three years for vessels over 18 metres targeting sprat was allowed to enable adjustment for these vessels, as the sprat fishery is concentrated inside the six nautical mile zone. A Policy Directive was issued by the Minister to the independent Licensing Authority to give effect to these measures.
This decision to exclude vessels over 18 metres from trawling inside the six nautical miles has been the subject of extended legal proceedings further to a Judicial Review to the High Court taken by two applicant fishermen challenging the validity of the Policy.
Further to the final judgment of the Courts in the matter of the exclusion of 18 metre vessels from trawling inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines, I have approved the commissioning of updated scientific and economic advice from the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara respectively on trawling in the waters inside 6 nautical miles.
It has been five years since the last scientific and economic advice was compiled and the public consultation on this issue took place. In line with best practice, I am seeking up-to date advice and will proceed anew with a public consultation based on this matter once policy options are identified.
1325. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered the awarding of compensation to those unable to avail of afforestation grants, owing to their participation in the hen harrier scheme. [38898/23]
View answerThe designation of lands as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for breeding Hen Harriers is a function exercised by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with the EU Birds Directive.
My Department has not approved any afforestation projects that are located within such areas. Under the new Forestry Programme 2023-27, and in keeping with State Aid conditions, areas within any SPA – including the six designated for breeding Hen Harrier – will not be eligible for afforestation.
I would further clarify that proposed afforestation outside of these SPAs may also be ineligible, where the site in question contains suitable foraging habitat, the planting of which could create an adverse effect on breeding birds within the SPA. My Department must also consider the Current Distribution and Breeding Distribution of Hen Harrier, as recorded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
When assessing individual projects for afforestation within these areas, my Department considers the potential impacts on Hen Harrier that could arise, including the disturbance of breeding birds arising from certain operations (e.g. machine cultivation, the driving of fencing posts), and the conversion of open habitat suitable for foraging to forest cover, which may only prove useful for foraging during the limited pre-thicket stage. Where impacts can arise, my Department may exclude afforestation from certain parts of the project, or rule out the project in its entirety.
The question of compensation does not arise, and is not one that I am considering.
1326. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 570 of 13 July 2023, if an update can be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38917/23]
View answerFurther to the response to Parliamentary Question No. 570, I understand that staff from the National Shared Services Office have been in contact with the person regarding the matter.
I can confirm that an official from my Department contacted the person by email to explain the position and outline the final decision on this matter.
1327. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of WTE qualified archaeologists employed by his Department in the years of 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [38944/23]
View answerThe table below presents an overview of the number of WTE qualified archaeologists employed by my Department in the years of 2022 and to date in 2023. All the staff listed work full time.
|
Grade |
2022 Staff |
2023 staff |
|
Forestry Inspector Grade 1 (Senior Archaeologist Grade 1 equivalent) |
1 |
1 |
|
Archaeologist Grade 3 (Forest Inspector G3 equivalent) |
4 |
4 |
|
Total |
5 |
5 |
1328. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has received a new Strategic Plan from Greyhound Racing Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39049/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
It is anticipated that the draft Strategic Plan will be submitted to the Department in the coming months, following the appointment of the new CEO of RCÉ.
1329. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding is available for a specific project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39067/23]
View answerUnfortunately no funding is currently available for this project.
In July 2023, my Department announced a public call for proposals to promote organic production. The purpose of the call was to encourage innovative proposals which would highlight the benefits of organic production in Ireland and as such funding would be allocated to projects to promote and outline the benefits of the Organic food and drink sector.
The call for the period 2023-2024 was open for applications from 6 July 2023 to 4 August 2023. There was a significant level of interest and a high number of high quality applications were received.
Should a similar call take place in the future the project described would be eligible to apply as long as its aim was to promote organic production.
1330. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a TB compensation payment will issue to a farmer (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39068/23]
View answerThe primary compensation scheme for farmers whose herds are affected by TB is the On-Farm Market Valuation Scheme under which compensation is payable for cattle removed as reactors.
My officials have informed me that the Herdowner in question is due to receive two separate payments under the On Farm Market Valuation scheme. Outstanding documentation relating to the first payment was submitted by the farmer on 23 August 2023. Pre Payment checks have now been completed by staff in the Regional Veterinary Office and this payment has been forwarded to the herdowner's nominated account. The second payment has now also completed its pre payment validations and is due to be forwarded to the nominated account of the herdowner in the coming days.
1331. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39093/23]
View answerThe Nitrates Derogation provides an opportunity for farmers, subject to strict environmental conditions, to maintain a stocking rate in excess of the normal stocking rate limit of 170kg livestock manure nitrogen per hectare.
Last year Ireland secured a Nitrates Derogation covering the period 2022-2025. The European Commission attached increased conditionality to that Derogation, including a requirement to conduct a two-year water quality review. This water quality review was insisted upon by the European Commission to give them the assurance they required to grant that Derogation in light of negative trends in water quality combined with increased livestock numbers and increased fertiliser use when the derogation was being negotiated.
I fully recognise farmers have embraced a lot of actions to improve water quality. I also fully recognise the value derogation farmers, and the associated food processing industry, deliver both directly, and indirectly for the local rural economy. As a result, in March I committed to re-engaging with the Commission to revisit the conditionality around this two-year water quality review. That engagement has been on-going, including direct engagement the European Commissioner Sinkevicius. Last week, in direct conversation with the Commissioner, he confirmed that the Commission would not re-open the Implementing Decision granting Ireland's current derogation.
As a result, based on the outcome of the water quality review, a significant proportion of our derogation farmers will have to move to a maximum stocking rate of 220kg livestock manure nitrogen from 2024.
Ireland is currently one of only three EU Member States availing of a Nitrates Derogation.
I am committed to seeking to retain Ireland's Nitrates Derogation in the period post-2025. To do this we must all work together to improve water quality. With this in mind, earlier this year, I established the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group. Involving the key stakeholders across the agrifood sector, the group is seeking to improve awareness of the impact individual actions can have on water quality, to improve compliance with existing rules and consider what new measures should be introduced to drive improvements in water quality.
I intend to continue working with Minister O'Brien and the stakeholders as we progress the interim review of the Nitrates Action Programme and prepare the case for a Nitrates Derogation post 2025.
1332. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons that attended the recent quarter finals, semi-finals and finals in the Irish Greyhound Derby Finals at Shelbourne Park; if he will provide the same figures for the same period in 2022, in tabular form. [39192/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
1333. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approval letters will issue in relation to TAMS Tranche 3; if he is aware of the stress that the delay in issuing TAMS approvals is causing to farmers who wished to have sheds in place for the coming winter; what is the cause of the current delay as farmers in Tranche 2 received approval letters within four to six weeks of the closing date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39196/23]
View answerThe Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. The scheme has proved very popular, with an unprecedented level of applications received under Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 (almost four times the average number received per tranche under TAMS 2).
To help with the processing of the huge number of applications, I have decided that farmers who require the construction of slurry and manure storage facilities, or urgent animal welfare related investments required for the winter of 2023/2024, may apply for priority approval up to 15 September 2023.
Applications received across all of the measures in Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 are currently being processed. Once the initial processing is completed all applications will be subject to a ranking and selection process, which is a regulatory requirement for all TAMS 3 applications. Due to the unprecedented level of interest, approvals will issue by scheme, starting with the Solar Capital Investment Scheme.
1335. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated to climate finance in the years 2020 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39276/23]
View answerI assume the Deputy is referring to climate finance refers to Ireland's international climate finance as opposed to national level commitments.
|
Year |
Total Climate Finance spent by DAFM |
Ireland’s total Climate Finance |
|
2020 |
€2,424,866 |
€ 88,341,096 |
|
2021 |
€6,599,081 |
€99,618,603 |
Following a cross-governmental process led by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the International Climate Finance Roadmap was published in July 2022. The Roadmap sets out how Ireland will deliver on the target of providing at least €225 million annually in international climate finance by 2025, a commitment made by the Taoiseach at COP 26 in Glasgow in November 2021.
Meeting this commitment will represent a more than doubling of Ireland’s climate finance. As the Roadmap sets out, the primary focus of Ireland’s climate finance is on supporting adaptation and resilience in the most vulnerable developing countries and communities.
The Government reports Ireland's climate finance expenditure on an annual basis, in line with the reporting requirements of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and with reporting guidance provided by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Department of Foreign Affairs produces an annual climate finance report, which provides information on the sources of finance, the thematic and geographic focus of funding and the channels through which funding is provided. The reports are available on the Irish Aid website.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provides details of its climate finance contributions annually, seeking input from the following agencies; Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Marine Institute, Bord Bia, Horse & Greyhound Racing and Teagasc.
My Department provided approximately 7% of the total climate finance (€6.6 million) in 2021.
I expect the climate finance figures for 2022 to be published later this year.
1336. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department is satisfied with a proposal from an applicant for a felling licence (details supplied) to replant 90% of the trees with sitka spruce and 10% with hardwoods as they indicated in their felling licence application in 2018; if not, on what grounds this proposal is being refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39289/23]
View answerMy Department’s position is that replanting with 100% native species would be the best option long term for the site referred to and the receiving environment. In addition, there is funding available under the native woodland conservation scheme to carry out the replanting of the site with native species. We will continue to engage with the applicant to agree a way forward for the replanting stage.
1337. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a letter will issue from the Land Commission to a solicitor (details supplied) confirming whether or not land specified was subject to Land Commission Proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39290/23]
View answerThe records branch of my Department have recently written to the solicitor involved seeking additional information to assist in the identification of the lands in question. When this additional information is to hand I can assure the Deputy that the matter will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible.
1338. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of decisions made by the forestry appeals committee which set back the decision of the Minister based on errors; whether he believes this represents an error in the assessment of forestry licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39337/23]
View answer1339. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is concerned that 54 of the last 55 decisions of the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) have been to set back the decision of the Minister on the basis of errors in the awarding of the licence; if he believes this represents a systemic flaw in the assessment of forestry licences; the potential impact of any such error on licences which have not been appealed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39338/23]
View answer1340. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to take action to address the errors identified in the forestry licensing decisions of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39339/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos 1338 to 1340, inclusive, together.
I am aware of the significant number of set-aside cases that have come back in the last year from the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC).
The majority of the decisions to set aside and remit licences were not questioning the substantive correctness of the decision made by the Department.
Rather, the FAC highlighted particular procedural errors by the Department, in particular in relation to the EIA determination and the Appropriate Assessment determination. The majority of the decisions to set aside and remit licences were requesting that the Department explicitly state that they have considered other plans and projects in the area of the licence application and consider the combined effect of these projects and the forestry application on European Natura 2000 sites.
My Department takes full cognisance of all decisions of the FAC, and is constantly working to improve its performance in respect of these and other matters. It has closely examined the FAC decisions in question and accepts the significance of the procedural errors made in those cases. It has taken action to address the particular procedural errors identified, including through changes to the Appropriate Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment determination procedures that will ensure better recording of the decision-making process and more robust decisions for the benefit of applicants and the public alike in the future. My Department therefore would expect that future licence decisions will not be successfully appealed on these particular grounds.
Below are statistics on FAC Decisions, by licence type, since the legislation governing the options available to FAC was changed to the options below, which include set aside and remit, in October 2020:
|
Afforestation |
Felling |
Road |
Grand Total |
|
|
Affirm |
65 |
165 |
64 |
294 |
|
Set Aside & Remit |
106 |
132 |
29 |
267 |
|
Vary |
24 |
32 |
6 |
62 |
|
Cancelled ( Set Aside ) |
18 |
5 |
2 |
25 |
|
Grand Total |
213 |
334 |
101 |
648 |
