Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 22 Nov 2023

Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary)

An Cathaoirleach

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that where possible they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

This meeting has been convened to consider the 2023 Supplementary Estimate of Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as referred by the Dáil on 1 November to the committee. I welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Charlie McConalogue, and his officials. The Minister is accompanied by Mr. Gordon Conroy, assistant secretary, Ms Rebecca Chapman, principal officer with the finance division, and Mr. Paul Mc Nally, assistant principal officer with the finance division. I will now ask the Minister to make his opening statement.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)

I thank the Cathaoirleach, and I thank the committee for the opportunity to present to it this request for a Supplementary Estimate for 2023. The Supplementary Estimate is required in order to make sure that we make use of the savings in the Department's Vote and to provide for Brexit adjustment reserve, BAR, schemes and Ukraine-related schemes. In gross terms, an additional €90.9 million is required by my Department to meet costs that have arisen in 2023. That is broken down as follows: €17.5 million for BAR fishery schemes; €68.4 million for Rosslare Europort development costs; and €5 million to fund Ukraine schemes.

The upgrade to Rosslare Europort is a critical infrastructure project to develop the necessary permanent infrastructure to comply with customs, with sanitary and phytosanitary controls, and with official food controls as the consequences of Brexit, as Deputies Deputy Kehoe and Mythen are very well aware of. The current temporary situation in Kilrane, which is situated outside Rosslare Europort, is not in compliance with the requirements of the EU customs' code. Nor is it in complete compliance with the infrastructure requirements for border control posts' handling of live animals as laid down in European Union legislation. The €68 million will go to the Office of Public Works as my Department's apportionment of the development costs here. The net amount of €236.506 million is €145.6 million higher than the gross requirement. This additional provision is to account for a reduction to the projected appropriations in aid to be received in 2023 by Vote 30, as receipts from the European Commission are now expected to be received in 2024. The main reason for the increase is because of the level of bovine TB.

The Supplementary Estimate will also provide for the movement of savings within certain subheads and across other subheads accounting for €90.093 million to meet cost pressures arising in other areas including for TB eradication and the organic farming schemes. As these proposed transfers in expenditure involve changes to the original 2023 Vote allocations it is important to seek the committee's input and approval. The areas where savings emerge reflect the very dynamic environment in which the sector and the Department has operated this year. Despite the continuing challenges facing the agrifood sector, including additional pressures arising as a result of the continuing war in Ukraine this year and the delivery of new CAP strategic plan schemes, we have continued to carry out our usual business.

Since October, more than €888 million has been paid to farmers under the 2023 basic payment scheme and the areas of natural constraint basic scheme. The Department issues these advance payments at a rate of 70% and 85%, respectively, to farmers at the earliest date possible under EU regulations. The remaining balancing payments, at rates of 30% and 15%, respectively, are due to commence in early December.

I will now outline where the savings we propose to use have emerged, starting with programme A, which relates to food safety, animal and plant health, and animal welfare. To ensure the highest international standards of food safety and quality are maintained, I am requesting an additional €22.3 million to bring the known administration part of the programme to €190.63 million. The main reason for the increase is because of the level of bovine TB in Ireland, which increased slightly in 2023 following a relative flat-lining of disease levels in recent years. Herd incidence currently stands at 4.81% on a 12-month rolling average up from 4.1% this time last year. The number of reactors is increasing also compared with last year. It stands at 26,987, compared with 22,500 on a 12-month rolling average. This reinforces the need to support the TB programme not just financially but also to ensure the policy the TB forum is developing is implemented in a robust manner.

The on-farm market valuation scheme, OFMV, is a principal compensation measure available under the TB eradication scheme to herd owners whose herds are affected by disease. This compensation is based on the market value of that animal subject to individual animal ceilings under the OFMV scheme. The number of reactors disposed to date is up 21% on the same period in 2022. Compensation payable for each animal removed under the scheme is 13% more expensive on average compared with last year, so compensation is now 29.9% more expensive when we compare it with 2019, for example. The large increase in the administration side of programme A is in the main due to the payment of the OPW payment, already referred to, for the Rosslare Europort development.

With regard to programme B - farm sector supports and controls - the total allocation here is reduced by approximately €34 million.

With the savings identified throughout the Vote I have allocated extra funding as follows: €4 million for organics; €3 million for the beef sustainability schemes; €1.4 million for the sheep improvement scheme; €22 million for the Ukraine-related schemes, in the main the fodder balancing payment; and €3 million for Brexit beef schemes. Savings from programme B are arising from lower than anticipated take-up of demand-led schemes from capital-funded schemes in particular. I reassure the committee I will ensure the maximum levels of funding will be paid out to farm families between now and the end of the year.

Programme C deals with policy and strategy. Its funding will increase from €404 million to €457 million. Some €25 million of the €53 million increase will be for the World Food Programme forward payment. As members know, my Department leads on Ireland's engagement with the World Food Programme, which is funded exclusively from voluntary contributions from member states. It works in partnership with other UN and international organisations and NGOs as well as civil society and the private sector to enable communities and countries to meet their own food needs. Ireland's commitment to the World Food Programme, expressed through three yearly strategic partnership agreements, is €75 million for the period 2022-2024. This proposed €25 million allocation is for next year and represents an advance on our commitment for next year. It will help save lives by supporting food security, nutrition and rebuilding livelihoods in fragile settings and reaffirms Ireland's role as one of the World Food Programme's most engaged partners. An allocation of €10.853 million is being provided to support the sustainable beef and lamb assurance scheme managed by Bord Bia.

Programme D concerns the seafood sector. This allocation has been increased from €337.5 million to €351.8 million. Savings within programme D were identified and used elsewhere within the Vote. This increase will provide additional funding to schemes funded by the BAR and managed by Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Brexit adjustment: local authority marine infrastructure scheme, termed the BALAMI scheme.

Programme E is appropriations-in-aid. As I mentioned, I am reducing my Department's receipts Estimate from €376 million to €231 million because receipts from the European Commission related to the CAP strategic plan and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund are now expected to be received in 2024. The majority of these receipts are expected in the first quarter of the year and my Department's Revised Estimates will also be amended next month to reflect this change.

To conclude, this is a necessary and important Supplementary Estimate which I recommend to the committee for support. I am naturally happy to respond to any questions members may have on it.

An Cathaoirleach

I thank the Minister. There are a few figures sticking out in the Estimate. He referred to the one on TB and went into detailed analysis of why it is up. However, for the cost to be up by 40% is a huge figure. We hear a lot about the new TB programme coming out. We are going to have a discussion on it, I think, in two weeks' time. There is much disquiet among farmers about the categorisation of herds, etc. The number of reactors is up significantly enough, but a 40% rise in the cost of the TB programme is alarming. We had a period when we thought we had TB on the run. The number of reactors was down very substantially. That, seemingly, has reversed and done so very significantly.

I welcome the deer forum the Minister set up. Representatives from it are coming in to us in two or three weeks' time and we will see where progress is at regarding a deer cull. From what we are hearing on the grapevine the level of TB in deer is very significant. We do not have any hope of controlling TB in the domestic herd when it is so prevalent in wildlife. Deer are grazing in places they never grazed before and the numbers are forcing them out of their natural habitats into grazing ground. That level of expense for TB is disturbing and there is no point in saying it is not. I hope with the TB forum the Minister has set up, we will start to see reactor figures going the other way. A deer cull is an essential part of it. Is badger vaccination ongoing or has it stopped?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

It is ongoing. I concur with the Cathaoirleach about the challenge, the disappointment, the traumatic nature of the experience of having reactors in the herd and what it means for people's farm businesses. I established the TB forum, bringing all key stakeholders together to collaborate on how we get this going in the right direction. We need to work through that forum to see what steps we can take to improve the situation. The Cathaoirleach made reference to the deer strategy group I established as well to assess the situation of the increasing number of deer roaming wild and the impact they are having. I recognise the strong and effective leadership of Teddy Cashman as chairman of that group. I look forward to publishing the group's report in a short period and stepping it out and acting on it.

An Cathaoirleach

Okay. Deputy Fitzmaurice is next.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

I thank the Chair. Will the Minister explain appropriations-in-aid? There is huge variance in it. It is something to do with the EU. Will the Minister explain that to me?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

Appropriations-in-aid are the receipts we get in from the EU in response to the direct payments and grants we pay out. We recoup them from the European Commission.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

The Commission owes us that difference, does it?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

Yes.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

It is going to come next year.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

It is going to come in the first quarter of next year rather than the last quarter of this year. The appropriations-in-aid referred to is the payment of the ANC for money we paid out and also some payment under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund as well. It is an accounting piece. It makes no difference to our budget this year in real terms and no difference to our budget next year in real terms either. It is simply how it is accounted for within the national budgets.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

That is perfect.

I concur with our Chair on TB. It looks like a huge increase in funding. Farmers have to get money but I am unsure about some of the proposals on the table about areas. Either a farmer is clear or not and that is the bottom line, rather than putting areas of danger together. It would destroy farms and whoever was the genius who came up with that needs to think again.

I am looking at agri-environment schemes. There is about €26 million or €27 million of an underspend there, if I am right. One heading is agri-environmental schemes and then I see the agri-climate rural environment scheme, where there is another €14 million of an underspend. Is that correct? On top of that is carbon tax measures and just transition fund. It is €13.65 million. There is a €7 million underspend there. What is that about?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice. On the agri-environmental schemes, there is a change there from €160 million to €133 million. This relates to demand-led funding, especially with the soil sampling scheme and also the TAMS renewable energy scheme, a lot of which is around the solar. We will be announcing that in the next week or two, but more of the funding will be next year rather than this year. Within that as well we have done some reprofiling. We have allocated extra funding of €4 million to organics from this line and also an extra €6.5 million to the straw incorporation measure on top of the €10 million already allocated to that to reflect the support farmers need given the very difficult harvest and growing season.

On ACRES, we had a profile of €160 million and we are expecting that will spend €146 million. We obviously gave some extensions in relation to results, scorecards, which were necessary to facilitate the 46,000 we had-----

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

Does that give the Minister more money for REPS or ACRES II?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

We have profiled €200 million in the budget next year for ACRES.

This means that this year we are reprofiling it into other things, because we have to spend it in the current year's budget. Obviously, we have to manage the ACRES budget from year to year in terms of the amount that is being paid out, etc.

Regarding the carbon tax measures and the just transition fund, €13.5 million had been allocated to that. We are now bringing that down to €6.5 million. First there was €10 million, which had been provided by the Department of energy and communications for the bioeconomy demonstration initiative in this year's budget. That was subsequently transferred to my Department. This allocation was in line with the overall budget for the bioeconomy demonstration initiative. It was not in line with our stated expected spending plan, so we need to adjust for that.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

It was my understanding that the carbon tax was going to be sent across to the ACRES scheme. Did that happen?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

That is profiled. The carbon tax is increasing year-on-year over the next while. It is profiled into our overall allocation for ACRES. I am not sure what the carbon tax actually-----

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

What is the figure that we will be getting out of the carbon tax for the ACRES scheme? That is what I would like to know.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

This year, all the current carbon tax capital we have is going towards ACRES.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

What is that? Explain how much it is.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

How much is that?

Ms Rebecca Chapman

I can check the figures and come back to the Deputy on it.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

That is all right. There is another figure that stood out, which relates to the development and promotion of agriculture. It is worrying to see that we have spent less than half our budget. Is that for the promotion of our foods in different countries, or what is it?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

That is the Enterprise Ireland capital investment scheme in the processing sector. We had allocated an expected spend of just over €30 million for this year. However, this scheme is demand-led and led by the number of applicants for it. It will, therefore, not be fully expended. Obviously, we allocated that as an opportunity. Some of it may carry into next year, but it is entirely demand-led. It is BAR funding going into the processing sector and is administered by Enterprise Ireland.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

Why is there such an underspend on receipts for inspection fees at meat plants?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

Which number is the Deputy referring to?

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

I refer to table No. 7, E3, E13 and E20.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

This was a typo. It was an administrative error when it was first done, so we are correcting that.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

What did the Minister say?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

It was an administrative error. Basically, the Estimate had been for €25 million, but that figure was an error at that stage. It should not have been that. It should have been €17 million. We are correcting that now in the Supplementary Estimate. It was a typographical error.

An Cathaoirleach

What is the Minister referring to?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

E3 on page 12.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

It is table No. 7.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

It refers to receipts from inspection fees at meat plants. There was an error when it was presented.

An Cathaoirleach

That is actually level, then.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

There is no change there. It is what was expected. There was an error with the figure when it was presented.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

What is the story with the two figures below it in E13 and E20? There looks to be another issue.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

E13 relates to receipts from the European Commission. They will not be received in 2023 and we have been expecting that. That is what I referred to in terms of many of the appropriations that were made. E13 relates to AFC money and E20 relates to the fisheries money. The appropriations laid will come in next year instead of this year. That is what that is.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

Okay. That is lovely.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

It makes no difference to our budget this year or next year. It is dealt with as a separate category by the Department of public expenditure in relation to how they account.

An Cathaoirleach

I call Deputy Kehoe.

Deputy Paul Kehoe

I thank the Cathaoirleach, the Minister and his officials. I have two or three very short questions. First, I very much welcome the investment in Rosslare Europort. I was there for the sod turning with the Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan. As a result of Brexit we have seen dramatic changes in Rosslare Europort and a huge amount of Government investment has gone into customs and the facilities there. It was unfortunate that it took Brexit for it to happen, but it is welcome all the same.

I have spoken to the Minister about the tillage sector. I thank him and his Department for responding to the needs of many Wexford farmers and those in other parts of the country, following the weather, which resulted in a huge amount of unharvested crops. The Minister had the agriculture reserve fund and an additional funding of €7.14 million for unharvested crops. That was announced in the last week or so. What is the process to get applications in, etc.? How does the Minister envisage this will work? Will it be a long, drawn-out scheme? If at all possible, I would appreciate if this issue receives the attention of the Minister's officials so that money can get into farmers' pockets as soon as possible. There is a huge number of farmers of my part of the country in Wexford who have a huge amount of unharvested crops.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

I recognise the Deputy's representations on behalf of the tillage sector. Wexford has probably been more adversely impacted than any other county during what was all-round a very difficult year. I responded with three separate packages to support the sector. I mentioned earlier that an extra €6.5 million was put into the straw incorporation measure, SIM, which quickly put money directly into the sector at a time when it was under pressure. I secured more than €7 million from the European Union to go towards the sector too. In the recent budget, I secured another €7 million, which I am targeting at those who had unharvested crops, as well as topping up the funding from the European Union.

We are looking at getting the funding out and opening up the applications early next year. We are aiming for late January, if we can do that. We will try to work towards that target in terms of getting the funding. The fact that we have given clear commitments will hopefully give that certainty to farmers about what they can expect. I refer in particular to those who have not been able to get crops.

An Cathaoirleach

There is a Dáil vote. Do you have any more questions?

Deputy Paul Kehoe

I do.

An Cathaoirleach

We will suspend first.

Deputy Paul Kehoe

That is okay.

Sitting suspended at 8.07 p.m. and resumed at 8.25 p.m.

An Cathaoirleach

We will resume. I call Deputy Kehoe.

Deputy Paul Kehoe

I have just one further question for the Minister regarding nitrates and derogation. An issue that has been raised with me in recent days is the culling of in-calf dairy cows specifically. Dairy farmers in my area have a huge concern in this regard. Will there be any change of mind in regard to in-calf cows?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

As Deputy Kehoe is aware, we have a meeting with the environment Commissioner tomorrow. We are meeting the Taoiseach and the water quality monitoring group that I set up specifically on the issue of the implementation of our derogation. It is a challenging situation in terms of the adjustment for farmers who would have been between 220 kg and 250 kg of nitrogen for their stocking rate.

My objective from the outset has been to work to try to support those farmers and to give clarity as early as I possibly could. We fought to get the best derogation we could two years ago. Part of that involved a mid-term review, whereby by the end of June this year, if certain areas of the country did not meet certain water improvement thresholds, the maximum derogation available in those areas under the derogation decision we got from other member states would drop from 250 kg of nitrogen to 220 kg. That was a real risk from the start of the derogation we secured. Unfortunately, when the water quality data was clarified at the end of June, it meant a number of areas were going to move to 220 kg under the derogation.

I then engaged with farming representatives and stakeholders and made a submission to the EU Commission seeking to delay the decision and seeking extra time. I met the Commissioner in early September and he was very clear with me it was not possible to change the derogation decision and to go back to other member states to get that change so that we could keep the 250 kg rate for longer, but they would engage with us to see what flexibilities there might be around the existing decision. Through September our teams engaged around the map that we published at the end of June to see what flexibility there might be. We got some additional flexibility, which meant more areas could stay at the 250 kg rate. We then published the map online at the end of September for farmers to be able to individually assess and clarify their own situation.

Throughout the process we have continued to engage with the Commission around any potential flexibilities there might be. Both the Taoiseach and I invited the Commissioner and we look forward to meeting with him tomorrow. Knowing the impact this has for farmers, I have been clear and honest at all times with regard to the situation facing us and I communicated that as early as I could to farmers while continuing to see what potential there might be. I know the Commissioner will clarify his position further tomorrow on the situation, which they have been communicating to us. It is very positive that he is coming to visit.

The move to 220 kg has a real impact. It is also important to be clear that we have a collective challenge to make sure we get the derogation renewed again at the end of 2025. As part of this derogation, which was renewed at the start of 2022, the Commission was actually seeking a lower threshold than the 220 kg at the mid-point review. That shows the challenge we have and the absolute imperative, not just from the point of view of improving water quality, which we all collectively are working to do, but also the importance of improving water quality to make sure we keep the derogation. It is important the Commissioner is here tomorrow. He will be meeting directly with farm representatives and all the stakeholders as well. It is also an opportunity for us to emphasise to him the importance of the derogation to Ireland and the importance to our dairy sector in particular of maintaining it and having it renewed when it comes up for renewal in 18 months' time.

Deputy Claire Kerrane

I thank the Minister for his opening statement. I have just two brief questions.

I will not repeat what has been said in regard to TB but the increase in expenditure is a cause for concern. I look forward to seeing what the forum does and to engaging with its members at the committee in the coming weeks, as the Cathaoirleach has said.

On this year's farm payments, 70% have been paid. Does the Minister have figures for how many farmers are still waiting for either their first ANC or BISS payment?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

Advance payments to farmers under the ANC scheme commenced on 17 October and continued in two payments up to 9 November. Currently, there is an eligible population of 103,000 farmers, of whom 92,000, or 89%, have received the advance payment. Under the basic income support for sustainability scheme, the number of eligible farmers is 117,000, of whom 109,000, or 92.5%, have received an advance payment. In regard to the eco-scheme, the current number of eligible recipients is 119,000, of whom 109,000, or 91%, have received their advance payment, meaning 10,000 farmers have yet to receive a payment. The number of cleared cases will continue to rise over the next few weeks.

Looking back, the first year of a new CAP is always a very challenging time. That is why I wrote to farmers back in March outlining that the times would be slightly different this year to ensure we would pay as high a percentage as possible in the first payment run. What happened in the past was that if we went earlier than we were ready to pay a large number of recipients, all of those who did not get paid automatically got on the telephone or accessed the communication channels asking what was the issue. The system can come down under its own weight in those circumstances. We set dates this year that we worked hard to stick by. We did sticky by and deliver on them and, as the Deputy can see, the payment percentages are high. Obviously, farmers among the 8%, 9% or 10% who have yet to be paid are in a difficult position. It happens every year that approximately that percentage is outstanding, or sometimes a bit less when we get further on in the CAP year and get into repeats. Overall, it has been a very high delivery and we certainly have avoided the weight of problems we had in previous first years of a new CAP. We are working to resolve the remaining outstanding payments.

Deputy Claire Kerrane

I thank the Minister for those figures. Is there a set date coming up when another payment run will be done, as opposed to payments being processed on a case-by-case basis as farmers contact the Department? If so, when is the date for the next payment run?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

A payment run happens pretty much every week but there is none this week. The next one will be on 1 and 2 December. There is no payment run on advance payments this week because we are now starting to pay the balancing payments to those who already got their advance payment. The two processes cannot run at the same time. Otherwise, we would be doing a run this week as well. Anybody who is cleared this week will get a payment at the start of next week.

Deputy Claire Kerrane

Is it the hope, then, that those who are still waiting will be paid in the next payment run on 1 December?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

Yes. Those who get cleared between now and next week will be paid next week. We are continuing to clear and resolve claims every week. We will keep paying weekly until the end of this year and into the start of next year.

Deputy Claire Kerrane

My second question relates to the Brexit adjustment reserve fund. Does the Minister have a figure for what is left in that fund at this time?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

The Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform is managing that fund and I do not have the figure. My Department is, by and large, exceeding the figures we set, both in fisheries and agriculture. We are by far the largest spending Department in respect of the fund and we have worked hard to pull as much funding as possible out of it. The Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform is managing it in the overall sense.

Deputy Claire Kerrane

There is an amount left in that fund. The Minister's Department has spent a lot of it, and all of that money was welcome and was spent in areas where it was needed. Is there anything else on which he is looking to spend from that fund before the end of the year?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

We are looking to spend as much as we possibly can. Even in the Supplementary Estimate today, I am bringing extra money into some lines under which we think we can spend more. Where more can be spent, we will spend it. However, there is no possibility of new schemes because the window for any lines of expenditure has passed. It is simply no longer possible to introduce and operate any new schemes through the Commission. For any schemes already in place, we are looking to draw down every penny we can and to maximise expenditure on them.

Deputy Claire Kerrane

I thank the Minister.

Deputy Johnny Mythen

I thank the Minister for his statement and his officials for their engagement. The upgrading of Rosslare Europort is a good news story. It is not often we have many good news stories. It is very welcome. Over the past 20 years, there has been no investment whatsoever in the port. As the fellow says, it is an ill wind that does not blow good for somebody. Brexit has brought some advantages, especially to places like Rosslare. Is the allocation of €68 million for the development of the existing infrastructure and is there a timescale for that development?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

The OPW is delivering the project on our behalf. A lot of the allocation of €68 million is for what is already delivered. I do not have an up-to-date note on what is outstanding. The figure represents our allocation towards the aspects of the project relating to my Department. I now have some additional information to hand. There are significant enabling works in the overall plan as part of the proposed site for the permanent infrastructure currently in use by the port. The Department is also engaging with CIÉ and the OPW in respect of a long-term lease agreement for the site. Overall, the project consists of the construction of Rosslare Europort terminal 7 and enabling works on a new border control post. The buildings comprise facilities for a range of activities, including for the use of the Garda, immigration, a Revenue enforcement and control area and, more pertinently from an agriculture point of view, live animal inspection facilities for equine ungulates and other animals, including domestic pets, and checks on products of animal origin.

In terms of the cost apportionment, the total cost of the project is €236 million, of which the €68 million is our portion. I can get an update from the OPW for the Deputy on how much of the work is completed.

Deputy Johnny Mythen

Is there a timescale for when it will be finished?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

I will ask for that information to be included.

Deputy Johnny Mythen

I thank the Minister. On the €70.5 million for BAR fisheries schemes, is there a breakdown of that allocation?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

Most of it is going towards piers and harbours across the country under the Brexit adjustment local authority marine infrastructure, BALAMI, scheme. A small amount of it is going to the liquidity schemes we have in place, mainly for the processing sector. We have done a second liquidity scheme to support the co-operative sector. However, most of the €70.5 million is for piers and harbours.

Deputy Johnny Mythen

Will the Minister give a breakdown of the €5 million to fund Ukrainian schemes?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

That is going towards the fodder balancing payment. We did the advance payment of the fodder scheme at the end of last year and we are now doing the balancing payment. We are taking some of that from savings but we need an extra €5 million in new funding, which is coming from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Delivery and Reform by way of this Supplementary Estimate.

That is what the €5 million refers to.

Deputy Johnny Mythen

I thank the Minister.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

I thank Deputy Mythen.

Deputy Michael Ring

I will take just one minute. I have two issues I want to raise with the Minister. One relates to TB and the cost factor. This has been the longest running industry in the past 30 years in this country and the time has come for us to get a handle on it. It is wrong that the taxpayers of this country are paying so much money every year for this industry. That is what I call it because people have made an industry out of it and it is wrong. Farmers are paying. The taxpayers are paying. Everybody is paying. I would like to know how the Minister is going to try to curtail it.

The other question, briefly, relates to seafood processors. A scheme has been set up in the Department. I will write to the Minister during the week about it. The other schemes that were set up are working very well but this scheme is not because of the rules and regulations governing how the scheme is set up. This industry has gone through a very difficult time with exports and trying to get the product into the UK, France, and everywhere else. They are not able to provide the raw material in this country and it is creating a big problem for them. A lot of these processors are in very serious trouble. The Minister must modify the existing scheme because processors must get accounts for 2019 and 2020. That is when we were in the height of Covid. There was another scheme for fishermen and the same criteria that applied to it should be used for this scheme. That is the reason people are not taking it up. They need the money. They need a scheme and they are glad one is there but I ask the Minister to look at the rules and regulations in regard to it. I will not hold up the meeting any longer.

An Cathaoirleach

If the Minister does not mind, he might give a written answer to Deputy Ring.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

I will.

Deputy Michael Ring

I do not mind.

An Cathaoirleach

We have to leave for a vote. On behalf of the select committee I thank the Minister and his officials for assisting the committee with its consideration of the 2023 Supplementary Estimate, Vote 30, and for dealing so comprehensively with the questions from Members.