Wednesday, 6 Dec 2023

Written Answers Nos. 136-140

Horse Racing Industry

Questions (136)

Paul Murphy

Question:

136. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the decision for the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board to give up on its own referral case three years, seven months and 13 days after it started investigating, and only a matter of days before the Referral Committee was due to hear the evidence (details supplied); if he will provide confirmation in relation to the reason for this, given the time and expense that went into the investigation; if he will ensure the investigation is carried out to completion by a third party without any bias; his views on whether the IHRB is fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54005/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) is the regulatory body for all horseracing in Ireland. The role of the IHRB is provided for under the Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016 and subsequent Statutory Instruments. The question raised by the Deputy is a matter for this organisation.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (137)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

137. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will approve applications for the farmers who have submitted TAMS applications; how much of the €370 million earmarked for TAMS funding has been given to farmers to date; how long on average are farmers waiting for approval of their applications; the longest wait for approval of a TAMS application, given that many farmers are unable to draw down funding this year for necessary on-farm investment; and what solutions are being put in place to quicken the process in order to help farmers. [54086/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The 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. There is an indicative budget of €370 million available for the period 2023-2027, and all investments must be linked to Climate, Environment or Animal Welfare. To date the total expenditure for TAMS in 2023 has amounted to €39.7 million.

Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 closed on 30 June 2023, with 8,241 applications received across ten separate investment measures. The Solar Capital Investment Scheme opened for applications in February 2023, with the remaining ten measures opening on a phased basis. The final measure - The Women Capital Investment Scheme - opened for applications in June 2023.

Overall, the scheme has proved very popular, with an unprecedented level of applications received (almost four times the average number received per tranche under TAMS 2). Applications received across all of the measures in Tranche 1 are currently being processed. Once the initial processing is completed, all applications are subject to a ranking and selection process, which is a regulatory requirement for all TAMS 3 applications.

To assist farmers that require the construction of slurry and manure storage facilities, or urgent animal welfare-related investments for the winter of 2023/2024, I provided a priority access facility, and all applications received under this facility have now been assessed.

Approvals have now issued to eligible priority access cases, and my Department has also been in contact with farmers where there is a query on their application in order to resolve the query before approval can issue. It is anticipated that non-priority approval letters for Tranche 1 applications will issue shortly, starting with the Solar Capital Investment Scheme.

More than 50% of all investments under tranche 1 are in respect of mobile equipment. Applicants may purchase the mobile equipment, at their own risk, subject to verification of eligibility in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the relevant schemes.

I also announced previously that 100% of eligible applications under tranche 1 of TAMS 3 will be approved for funding, which is in keeping with my commitment to assist farmers to address animal welfare, climate and sustainability targets.

Animal Slaughtering

Questions (138, 139)

Michael McNamara

Question:

138. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of controlled finishing units or feedlots currently registered in the State; and the beef kill numbers per month since January 2020 at EU approved slaughter plants originating in such controlled finishing units or feedlots. [54138/23]

Michael McNamara

Question:

139. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the total beef kill numbers per month since January 2020 at EU approved slaughter plants originating in controlled finishing units or feedlots. [54139/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together.

Certain beef herds are defined by my Department as Controlled Finishing Units (CFUs) in the context of the Bovine TB Eradication Programme. Currently, there are 421 beef herds designated as CFUs.

A monthly breakdown of annual CFU kill numbers at DAFM-approved plants from 2017 onwards is published on my Department's website in the section dealing with bovine birth and movement reports. The data is published under the title ‘Kill numbers at EU approved slaughter plants originating in Controlled Finishing Units’ and can be accessed at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/467e3-cattle-aim/

Question No. 139 answered with Question No. 138.

Animal Slaughtering

Questions (140)

Michael McNamara

Question:

140. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many controlled finishing units or feedlots in the State are accredited under the Bord Bia sustainable beef and lamb assurance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54140/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The management and development of the Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme is an operational matter for An Bord Bia.

The Deputy is invited to contact An Bord Bia directly on the e-mail address supplied to the Oireachtas services for such matters [e-mail] and a response will be provided in accordance with Bord Bia's Quality Customer Service policy.