Written Answers Nos. 514-533
514. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how much State funding has been provided to the DSPCA facility at Mount Venus Road from 2019-2024, in tabular form; the purposes for which this money was granted to the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10102/24]
View answerThe table below sets out the amounts of funding awarded by my Department to the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA), over the period 2019 to 2024. The majority of this funding was awarded to DSPCA through the Animal Welfare Grants programme, run by my Department, under which registered animal charities, providing animal welfare services, in Ireland, can apply for funding.
The figure for 2024, to date, relates to an equine care programme and does not include any Animal Welfare Grant funding, as these grants have not yet been awarded for 2024. The figure for 2019 is inclusive of €9608 which also relates to an equine care programme.
|
Year |
Award |
|
2024 |
€1987.25 |
|
2023 |
€931,750 |
|
2022 |
€891,750 |
|
2021 |
€615,000 |
|
2020 |
€535,000 |
|
2019 |
€494,608 |
515. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén fáth a raibh fadhb leis na bacáin ag carrchlós na n-oileánach ag Calaphort Ros an Mhíl ag an deireadh seachtaine, rud a chiallaigh nach raibh oileánaigh in ann a gcarranna a fháil isteach ná amach; cén fáth nach raibh duine ar fáil leis na bacáin a ardú nuair a theip ar an gcóras uathoibríoch; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [10126/24]
View answerIs oth le mo Roinn má chuir teip na bacainne isteach ar dhuine ar bith le linn an deireadh seachtaine. Tá an Roinn ag déanamh athbhreithniú ar an eachtra agus chuir siad in iúl dom gur mhair sé achar gearr. Is ceist oibríochtúil í seo agus tá sí á hiniúchadh leis an soláthróir bacainne. D’iarr mé ar mo Roinn teachtaireacht nuashonraithe a ullmhú ionas gur féidir le húsáideoirí an charrchlóis a bheith cinnte go bhfuil an córas ag feidhmiú agus cén chaoi chun cás ar bith a chur ina cheart go tapa.
516. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will designate Magheroarty Pier in County Donegal as a landing point for UK registered vessels, similar to other piers and harbours across Donegal. [10205/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, there are significant practical and cost implications for the State in the designation of EU ports for Third Country landings as, under EU Regulations, such designations represent an entry point to the European Union following which food is free to circulate within the full EU common market. On this basis for any ports designated, Ireland is obliged to ensure that it has in place a meaningful control presence.
Last year, I designated three new ports in County Donegal for landings from UK-registered Northern Ireland vessels (Bunagee, Glengad and Malin Head) as well as extending the opening hours in Greencastle. In addition, Dunmore East was also designated for landings from UK-registered Northern Ireland vessels. These four newly designated ports were additional to the seven ports already designated: Ros A Mhíl, Greencastle, Rathmullen, Burtonport, Howth, Killybegs and Castletownbere.
I should inform the Deputy that the current ports designated and the opening days and times for those ports were decided to allow for Northern Ireland registered vessels to continue to land into Irish ports, while ensuring that the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority has the capacity to continue to perform its vital control functions effectively.
There are no current plans to include Magheroarty Harbour as a designated port for UK vessels, given the significant extension in the number of designated ports in recent years and the levels of commitments and resources required and available.
I would also like to assure the Deputy that the designation of ports for landings does not preclude vessels from coming into ports for force majeure reasons such as safe harbour.
517. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are plans to recruit an animal welfare inspector for Limerick city, appreciating the high number of wandering horses and unaccompanied dogs within the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10326/24]
View answerUnder the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013, my Department has primary policy responsibility for the welfare of all animals.
Since the introduction of the Act, over 1,000 Department officials have been designated as authorised officers under the Act and their responsibilities include the enforcement of animal welfare legislation provided for under the Act. A large number of these authorised officers are based in my Department's network of regional veterinary offices throughout the country including the Limerick Regional Veterinary Office.
An Garda Síochána are also authorised officers under the Act, as are specified officers of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Rasaíoct Con Eireann, the Irish Horse Racing Board and customs officials.
Local Authorities also have the powers to appoint authorised officers under the Act.
A feature of the enforcement of the Act is that my Department can appoint authorised officers from welfare organisations with which the Department has service level agreements, to work alongside officials of my Department, An Garda Síochána and the Local Authority on certain enforcement matters, resulting in a very effective and efficient use of resources. It is at the discretion of these welfare organisations to deploy these officers to where they decide they can have the maximum impact.
My Department also provides considerable financial and administrative support to assist welfare organisations in carrying out their work in protecting animal welfare. In December 2023, I announced record funding of €6 million to 101 animal welfare charities nationwide, through the animal welfare grants programme. This is the largest award of grant funding to animal welfare bodies ever made by my Department, including €177,400 to welfare organisations based in County Limerick. This is in addition to €106,025 in funding, provided by my Department, under our Urban Horse Projects initiative, to the Moyross Equine Education and Therapy Programme, in 2023, aimed at educating young people from Limerick City on equine welfare and the associated positive health benefits for both people and horses.
518. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the conditions and circumstances which allowed Teagasc Ballyhaise to spread slurry within the prohibited period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10385/24]
View answerBallyhaise Agricultural College is one of four Teagasc owned colleges. The day to day running of the colleges, including farm operations, is an operational matter for Teagasc.
I am advised that Teagasc is aware of a recent inaccurate media report regarding the dates on which slurry was spread in Ballyhaise. Teagasc has confirmed for the record that slurry was not spread during the closed period.
The media outlet has acknowledged that an error was made and agreed to publish a correction.
519. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of payments in euro paid out for 2023 under the basic income support for sustainability scheme, by county; the total number of farmers paid in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10391/24]
View answerThe Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) scheme is an exceptionally important support to farmers. To date in excess €675 million has been paid out to 119,296 farmers who applied under the 2023 scheme.
Attached is a breakdown in tabular form of the total amount of 2023 BISS scheme payments made to farmers on a per county basis for 2023 applications which have been paid up to and including Friday 01 March 2024.
Payments on 2023 applications continue to be made across a number of schemes as applicants meet the eligibility requirements.
|
SCHEME_YEAR |
COUNTY |
NUM_PAID |
BISS_TOTAL |
|
2023 |
CARLOW |
1559 |
12,037,769.85 |
|
2023 |
CAVAN |
4607 |
19,705,403.99 |
|
2023 |
CLARE |
5834 |
27,590,892.76 |
|
2023 |
CORK |
12160 |
84,196,188.04 |
|
2023 |
DONEGAL |
8345 |
36,230,287.06 |
|
2023 |
DUBLIN |
555 |
4,789,671.09 |
|
2023 |
GALWAY |
11425 |
49,586,132.52 |
|
2023 |
KERRY |
7347 |
40,795,229.35 |
|
2023 |
KILDARE |
1980 |
16,076,382.77 |
|
2023 |
KILKENNY |
3167 |
26,480,555.01 |
|
2023 |
LAOIS |
2754 |
19,951,992.43 |
|
2023 |
LEITRIM |
3322 |
12,609,327.07 |
|
2023 |
LIMERICK |
4795 |
28,061,355.20 |
|
2023 |
LONGFORD |
2321 |
10,584,150.37 |
|
2023 |
LOUTH |
1406 |
9,791,043.91 |
|
2023 |
MAYO |
10854 |
44,098,798.71 |
|
2023 |
MEATH |
3609 |
27,497,294.84 |
|
2023 |
MONAGHAN |
3833 |
15,202,730.66 |
|
2023 |
OFFALY |
2814 |
18,510,929.27 |
|
2023 |
ROSCOMMON |
5476 |
23,176,930.83 |
|
2023 |
SLIGO |
3767 |
15,180,909.74 |
|
2023 |
TIPPERARY |
6418 |
49,894,406.90 |
|
2023 |
WATERFORD |
2204 |
19,639,298.44 |
|
2023 |
WESTMEATH |
2905 |
17,846,064.22 |
|
2023 |
WEXFORD |
3803 |
29,770,892.83 |
|
2023 |
WICKLOW |
2036 |
15,930,468.17 |
|
119296 |
675,235,106.03 |
520. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of payments in euro paid out for 2023 under the complementary redistributive income support for sustainability, by county; the total number of farmers paid in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10392/24]
View answerComplementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) is designed to ensure redistribution of direct payments from larger holdings to medium and smaller sized holdings. The support is provided in the form of an annual decoupled payment per eligible hectare to farmers who are entitled to a payment under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS). CRISS payment is made on the first 30 eligible hectares claimed. In combination with BISS it is an exceptionally important support to Irish farmers. In excess of €115 million has been paid to date under the 2023 scheme.
Attached is a breakdown in tabular form of the total amount of 2023 CRISS scheme payments made to farmers on a per county basis for 2023 applications which have been paid up to and including Friday 01 March 2024.
Payments on 2023 applications continue to be made as applicants meet the eligibility requirements.
|
SCHEME_YEAR |
COUNTY |
NUM_PAID |
CRISS_TOTAL |
|
2023 |
CARLOW |
1559 |
1,586,928.90 |
|
2023 |
CAVAN |
4607 |
4,180,828.82 |
|
2023 |
CLARE |
5834 |
5,802,331.77 |
|
2023 |
CORK |
12160 |
12,468,879.13 |
|
2023 |
DONEGAL |
8345 |
7,829,141.81 |
|
2023 |
DUBLIN |
555 |
556,848.40 |
|
2023 |
GALWAY |
11425 |
10,439,677.59 |
|
2023 |
KERRY |
7347 |
7,472,200.87 |
|
2023 |
KILDARE |
1980 |
1,970,026.72 |
|
2023 |
KILKENNY |
3167 |
3,313,318.82 |
|
2023 |
LAOIS |
2754 |
2,781,154.18 |
|
2023 |
LEITRIM |
3322 |
3,105,515.31 |
|
2023 |
LIMERICK |
4795 |
4,779,579.52 |
|
2023 |
LONGFORD |
2321 |
2,132,072.51 |
|
2023 |
LOUTH |
1406 |
1,286,608.75 |
|
2023 |
MAYO |
10854 |
9,796,209.23 |
|
2023 |
MEATH |
3609 |
3,514,852.52 |
|
2023 |
MONAGHAN |
3833 |
3,227,237.91 |
|
2023 |
OFFALY |
2814 |
2,870,221.55 |
|
2023 |
ROSCOMMON |
5476 |
5,081,203.82 |
|
2023 |
SLIGO |
3767 |
3,396,496.32 |
|
2023 |
TIPPERARY |
6418 |
6,703,514.32 |
|
2023 |
WATERFORD |
2204 |
2,304,680.81 |
|
2023 |
WESTMEATH |
2905 |
2,869,766.00 |
|
2023 |
WEXFORD |
3803 |
3,829,843.74 |
|
2023 |
WICKLOW |
2036 |
2,121,453.74 |
|
119296 |
115,420,593.06 |
521. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of payments in euro paid out for 2023 under the Eco-scheme, by county; the total number of farmers paid in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10393/24]
View answerAs of 23 February 2024, a total of 116,594 famers were paid €298,336,621 under the 2023 Eco-Scheme. A breakdown of numbers of herds paid by county as follows:-
|
County |
Number of Herds Paid |
Gross Amount Paid |
|
Carlow |
1496 |
4,516,353 |
|
Cavan |
4554 |
9,041,108 |
|
Clare |
5757 |
13,336,769 |
|
Cork |
11709 |
34,290,599 |
|
Donegal |
8328 |
18,700,993 |
|
Dublin |
557 |
2,210,489 |
|
Galway |
11134 |
23,098,354 |
|
Kerry |
7133 |
20,753,750 |
|
Kildare |
1902 |
6,657,784 |
|
Kilkenny |
3067 |
10,183,446 |
|
Laois |
2634 |
7,580,847 |
|
Leitrim |
3313 |
6,754,439 |
|
Limerick |
4739 |
12,699,774 |
|
Longford |
2271 |
4,588,530 |
|
Louth |
1346 |
3,879,136 |
|
Mayo |
10657 |
22,149,248 |
|
Meath |
3459 |
11,037,140 |
|
Monaghan |
3869 |
6,566,328 |
|
Offaly |
2743 |
7,730,218 |
|
Roscommon |
5411 |
10,621,566 |
|
Sligo |
3686 |
7,654,930 |
|
Tipperary |
6224 |
19,863,207 |
|
Waterford |
2132 |
7,870,990 |
|
Westmeath |
2829 |
7,771,291 |
|
Wexford |
3668 |
11,587,791 |
|
Wicklow |
1976 |
7,191,539 |
|
Total |
116594 |
298,336,621 |
522. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of payments in euro paid out for 2023 under the agri-climate rural environment scheme, by county; the total number of farmers paid in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10394/24]
View answerThe information requested is provided in the table below.
Interim payments to ACRES participants, which issued last week, are included in this table. Interim payments will issue to the remaining participants in the coming weeks.
Intensive work will continue on the calculation of the payments due to farmers under ACRES. When this work is completed, the ACRES payments, which will issue to farmers in June, will take into account the interim payments already made to the relevant participants.
|
Pay Run |
Pay Run |
Interim Payments |
Interim Payments |
Total Payments |
Total Payments |
|
|
County |
Number Paid |
Amount Paid |
Number Paid |
Amount Paid |
Number Paid |
Amount Paid |
|
Carlow |
269 |
€1,278,729.28 |
184 |
€900,000.00 |
453 |
€2,178,729.28 |
|
Cavan |
1,080 |
€5,012,296.74 |
513 |
€2,419,000.00 |
1,593 |
€7,431,296.74 |
|
Clare |
1,150 |
€5,268,046.68 |
1,683 |
€8,161,000.00 |
2,833 |
€13,429,046.68 |
|
Cork |
1,283 |
€5,524,635.92 |
2,188 |
€10,297,000.00 |
3,471 |
€15,821,635.92 |
|
Donegal |
1,280 |
€5,185,748.46 |
3,463 |
€16,685,000.00 |
4,743 |
€21,870,748.46 |
|
Dublin |
31 |
€135,376.00 |
39 |
€188,000.00 |
70 |
€323,376.00 |
|
Galway |
2,170 |
€9,480,392.66 |
3,076 |
€14,791,000.00 |
5,246 |
€24,271,392.66 |
|
Kerry |
455 |
€1,900,414.09 |
2,838 |
€13,862,000.00 |
3,293 |
€15,762,414.09 |
|
Kildare |
198 |
€865,142.22 |
63 |
€305,000.00 |
261 |
€1,170,142.22 |
|
Kilkenny |
470 |
€2,163,094.31 |
117 |
€497,000.00 |
587 |
€2,660,094.31 |
|
Laois |
259 |
€1,225,985.10 |
164 |
€768,000.00 |
423 |
€1,993,985.10 |
|
Leitrim |
587 |
€2,665,625.22 |
1,448 |
€7,182,000.00 |
2,035 |
€9,847,625.22 |
|
Limerick |
606 |
€2,673,346.93 |
667 |
€3,234,000.00 |
1,273 |
€5,907,346.93 |
|
Longford |
988 |
€4,655,915.76 |
201 |
€856,000.00 |
1,189 |
€5,511,915.76 |
|
Louth |
125 |
€583,199.60 |
112 |
€542,000.00 |
237 |
€1,125,199.60 |
|
Mayo |
2,160 |
€9,220,939.73 |
3,335 |
€16,105,000.00 |
5,495 |
€25,325,939.73 |
|
Meath |
376 |
€1,741,913.68 |
69 |
€296,000.00 |
445 |
€2,037,913.68 |
|
Monaghan |
475 |
€2,044,190.11 |
181 |
€842,000.00 |
656 |
€2,886,190.11 |
|
Offaly |
517 |
€2,347,746.67 |
154 |
€707,000.00 |
671 |
€3,054,746.67 |
|
Roscommon |
1,882 |
€8,713,643.37 |
547 |
€2,466,000.00 |
2,429 |
€11,179,643.37 |
|
Sligo |
729 |
€3,261,009.84 |
914 |
€4,433,000.00 |
1,643 |
€7,694,009.84 |
|
Tipperary |
769 |
€3,498,874.83 |
748 |
€3,475,000.00 |
1,517 |
€6,973,874.83 |
|
Waterford |
223 |
€984,516.14 |
250 |
€1,190,000.00 |
473 |
€2,174,516.14 |
|
Westmeath |
737 |
€3,628,261.82 |
144 |
€606,000.00 |
881 |
€4,234,261.82 |
|
Wexford |
636 |
€3,165,856.30 |
316 |
€1,398,000.00 |
952 |
€4,563,856.30 |
|
Wicklow |
264 |
€1,131,318.17 |
297 |
€1,422,000.00 |
561 |
€2,553,318.17 |
|
Total |
19,719 |
€88,356,219.63 |
23,711 |
€113,627,000 |
43,430 |
€201,983,219.63 |
523. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of payments in euro paid out for 2023 under the forestry grants and schemes, by county; the total number of payees in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10395/24]
View answerThe following table shows the total amounts and number of payees per county in payments made by my Department under the forestry schemes in 2023. These payments include grants and premiums under the afforestation schemes and grants under the support schemes. The major component of these payments were subsequent premiums due for forests planted under the Afforestation schemes. It includes payments made under the interim schemes under the general De Minimis regulation for afforestation, forest roads and reconstitution of ash Dieback introduced in 2023 prior the launch of the new programme.
|
Summary |
||
|
|
Total County Spend |
No of Payees |
|
Carlow |
€633,257.29 |
108 |
|
Cavan |
€3,176,526.33 |
508 |
|
Clare |
€4,849,541.91 |
917 |
|
Cork |
€7,776,432.32 |
1390 |
|
Donegal |
€1,006,184.96 |
186 |
|
Dublin |
€212,524.87 |
25 |
|
Galway |
€4,239,376.01 |
767 |
|
Kerry |
€5,066,045.78 |
905 |
|
Kildare |
€842,453.25 |
151 |
|
Kilkenny |
€2,425,802.11 |
438 |
|
Laois |
€1,492,552.89 |
238 |
|
Leitrim |
€3,342,755.22 |
469 |
|
Limerick |
€2,963,091.46 |
503 |
|
Longford |
€2,201,205.50 |
418 |
|
Louth |
€488,131.39 |
69 |
|
Mayo |
€4,130,088.02 |
792 |
|
Meath |
€1,551,974.44 |
259 |
|
Monaghan |
€754,380.37 |
180 |
|
Offaly |
€2,312,192.93 |
362 |
|
Roscommon |
€4,310,175.24 |
715 |
|
Sligo |
€2,255,362.04 |
460 |
|
Tipperary |
€4,376,137.41 |
661 |
|
Waterford |
€1,495,061.62 |
290 |
|
Westmeath |
€3,191,664.40 |
395 |
|
Wexford |
€1,828,564.44 |
554 |
|
Wicklow |
€2,144,694.48 |
557 |
|
TOTAL |
€69,066,176.68 |
12,317 |
524. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department's sanction is required with regard to sale of entitlements (details supplied); and if required, when this sanction will be issued. [10397/24]
View answerThe named person applied to sell entitlements in 2023, although a different amount to that stated. Processing of that application has been fully completed and letters have issued to both parties. This was all of the entitlements available to the named person in 2023 and there is no record of a further application to sell entitlements.
The named person also has additional entitlements which are leased out on a long-term lease until 2026. Should they wish to sell some of these in 2024, it will be necessary for them to request an early termination of that lease and apply to transfer the entitlements through AgFood.ie before the closing date of 15 May 2024.
If they require additional information regarding the sale of entitlements they can contact the section directly by email transferofentitlements@agriculture.gov.ie or by calling the helpdesk on 057 86 74422 and staff from my Department will be happy to assist with their query.
525. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the ground rents payable by his Department or agencies under its remit, by named property, by name of landlord and by amount payable, in the years 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10408/24]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my Department did not pay any ground rents in the years 2016 to date.
As regards the 13 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
526. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the number of farming work permits taken up in Clare over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10439/24]
View answerMy colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has lead responsibility for employment permits. Arising from my ongoing engagement with our sector stakeholders, my Department is in regular contact with that Department regarding the labour shortages that exist in certain sub-sectors of agri-food. I am informed that 1,385 employment permits were issued in 2023 to the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector, including the meat processing and horticulture sectors, of which seven employment permits were taken up in Clare.
In sectors such as horticulture, dairy and pig farming, where there has been difficulty recruiting enough labour from within Ireland and the European Economic Area, my Department continues to work closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) to ensure that there are employment permits made available to recruit additional labour, while recognising that this should be the last resort for filling vacancies. Following a public consultation in 2023 to review the eligibility of occupations for employment permits by DETE, an extension of 2,700 permits for some occupations in the agriculture sector was announced, and these are now available. My Department is also working closely with DETE on the introduction of a seasonal employment permit facility in new employment permit legislation currently before the Oireachtas, with a view to having a pilot seasonal employment permit for the horticulture sector operational in 2025.
I will continue to work closely with the sector and with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to help ensure that there is sufficient labour available to the agriculture sector.
527. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can provide a timeline on when the national biomethane strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10478/24]
View answerAt the end of January, I launched a public consultation to guide the development of the National Biomethane Strategy with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan T.D.
There has been a considerable response to the consultation and the closing date for submissions has been extended to 5 March 2024.
In Ireland, the development of a biomethane industry is at a nascent stage of development but there is significant potential. Biomethane has the potential to displace fossil gas in many hard-to-decarbonise sectors and will play a significant role in enabling our transition to a net-zero economy, while also playing a significant role in the decarbonisation of Ireland’s agriculture sector.
The public consultation on the draft National Biomethane Strategy builds on extensive analysis and engagement already undertaken. Discussions were held with circa sixty consultees across thirty-six groups to hear their expert views on the development of a biomethane industry in Ireland. These stakeholder consultee meetings informed the initial draft strategy. The views collated through the public consultation is important to capture the views from interested parties on the proposals and recommendations outlined, in order to fully inform the final design of the strategy.
It is my expectation that the Strategy will be ready for consideration by Government by early Q2 2024.
528. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on a burnt land appeal in respect of a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10567/24]
View answerAn application for participation in the 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (BISS), Complementary Redistributive Support for Sustainability (CRISS), Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) and ECO schemes was received from the above named applicant on the 27th May, 2023.
Following a review of parcels by satellite imagery parcels within this application were identified as being burned between the 1st of March and the 31st of August. It is specified in the 2023 BISS Terms & Conditions that land burnt between the 1st of March and the 31st of August is not eligible for payment purposes under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme.
My Department received an appeal from the named person, the case was examined on its merits and the information supplied by the applicant was taken into consideration. The appeal was successful, the area was updated and a supplementary payment requested. Payment for BISS and CRISS was processed on the 29th of February, 2024.
529. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that TAMS applications are taking up to 24 months to be assessed by his Department and is causing great uncertainty in the industry including suppliers and contractors; if he will intervene to ensure that TAMS applications are processed in a timely way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10588/24]
View answerThe Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3), which opened for applications in February 2023, provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings.
Applications received prior to the opening of TAMS 3 have all been assessed by my Department. These fall under the TAMS II scheme, which closed for applications in December 2022. My Department has been in contact with those applicants that have not yet received approval to outline deficiencies in their applications that are preventing them from being progressed further.
As mentioned, Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 opened in February 2023 with the Solar Capital Investment Scheme, and closed on 30 June 2023. More than 8,200 applications were received across ten separate investment measures (almost four times the average number received per tranche under TAMS 2). To date 5,635 approval letters for Tranche 1 applications have issued.
Tranche 2 closed on 19 January 2024, with more than 9,000 applications received. As was the case under Tranche 1, a priority approval mechanism is available for those who require urgent approval to proceed with works. Applicants or their advisors can contact their Department of Agriculture local office in this regard. Their application will then be assessed to determine whether there is an urgent need to issue approval, and prioritised accordingly.
530. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline changes made by an organisation (details supplied) to support breeders outside of the changes made to assist SCEP participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10663/24]
View answerThe named organisation is owned and operated by industry stakeholders and charged with ensuring stakeholder responsibility for the direction of livestock breeding in Ireland. The breeding direction and development and operation of Breeding indices are therefore a matter for ICBF. Pedigree breeders are represented on the Board of the organisation.
The organisation has recently established a stakeholder forum, which aims to respond to concerns raised by stakeholders, particularly those impacted by the recent amendments to breeding indexes.
531. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can clarify the measures in place to ensure equal opportunity for all farmers in the ACRES programme (details supplied); the plans to approve all applications which were submitted in the ACRES program's second tranche; if the ACRES programme will be expanded to accommodate the high volume of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10820/24]
View answerThe purpose of the ACRES scheme is to help farmers to address a range of environmental, climate and biodiversity and challenges, and to contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in this respect in Ireland's 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan. The tiered structure, and the criteria for acceptance into the Scheme, were therefore designed to optimise the extent to which the Scheme actions could contribute to those objectives.
As I have stated previously, I have committed to permitting 50,000 participants in the Scheme, in accordance with Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan and I will deliver on that commitment.
532. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a young farmer payment will issue to persons (details supplied). [10830/24]
View answerThe persons named submitted applications under the young farmer category of the 2023 National Reserve and also the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers. The National Reserve application was successful, and the persons named were notified of this outcome on 22nd February. Payment based on the allocation from the National Reserve will issue as soon as possible.
Processing of the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers application is ongoing as there are some remaining eligibility and verification checks to be carried out. A member of staff of my Department will be in direct contact with the person named where there is further information required regarding the application.
533. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth why subsistence payments have not been paid to registered intellectual disability nurses in Cork through the Cope Foundation. [10515/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
