Written Answers Nos. 85-94
85. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of approved applicants who have withdrawn from the 2015 suckler cow scheme; if he will review the restrictive nature of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38550/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Beef Data and Genomics Programme was negotiated and agreed with the European Commission earlier in the year as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Plan. I have recently announced flexibilities in relation to withdrawal from the scheme where land is leased or sold and also in relation to animals qualifying towards the female replacement requirements. Any further substantive changes to the terms of the BDGP would require a complete renegotiation with the Commission. Furthermore any reduction in the number of commitments would result in a corresponding reduction in payment as the payment is calculated on the basis of costs incurred or income foregone by the participants in complying with the Programme. There are 27,378 active participants in the 2015 Beef Data and Genomics Programme and approximately 2,400 applicants have withdrawn.
86. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment for 2015 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry under the areas of natural constraints scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38551/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme was received from the person named on 5 May 2015. Processing of the application is currently in progress. On completion of this process, the application will be further reviewed with a view to payments issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date.
87. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the protections in place to protect the native Irish bee from prevalent threats such as the American foulbrood disease and the small hive beetle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38570/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra88. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the restrictions in place on imported bees to protect the native Irish bee from the spread of prevalent threats such as the American foulbrood disease and the small hive beetle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38571/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra89. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will investigate the possibility of quarantining and testing imported bee species, in order to protect the native Irish bee's natural habitat from diseases or other threats which jeopardise the indigenous Irish bee population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38572/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra90. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has previously conducted or commissioned a survey to assess the threat imported bees can pose to the indigenous Irish bee population through the spreading of disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38573/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra91. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider the appointment of bee inspectors, similar to those appointed in Northern Ireland, through European Union financial aid funding to monitor and control the spread of pests and diseases that threaten the natural habitat of the indigenous Irish bee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38574/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 87 to 91, inclusive, together.
The value of honey bees as pollinators far exceeds their value as honey producers. In 2008 the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government estimated the value of pollinators (including honey bees) for Irish food crops was worth at least €53m. This does not include the value of pollinators in terms of non-food crops and maintaining bio-diversity in the wild. The value of honey produced in Ireland in 2014 was estimated at slightly over €3m.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has not conducted a study to assess the possible impact of a significant bee disease outbreak, however I fully recognise that a disease outbreak, and especially an exotic disease outbreak, could have a significant negative impact on the Irish bee population.
My Department recognises the importance of maintaining and further developing a healthy honey bee population. With this in mind, the signing into law of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 repealed the out-dated 1908 Bee Pest Prevention Act. American Foulbrood and the Small Hive Beetle are both notifiable diseases under the Notification and Control of Animal Diseases Regulations 2014 (SI No 110 of 2014). While American Foulbrood has existed in Ireland for many years the Small Hive Beetle has never been found in Ireland. In response to the 2014 outbreak of Small Hive Beetle in Italy my Department established a sentinel apiary programme earlier this year. This programme was established with the support of the Federation of Irish Beekeeping Associations and the Native Irish Honey Bee Society. Volunteer beekeepers in areas which are considered to represent greatest risk for the introduction of pests such as the Small Hive Beetle, as well as other beekeepers are participating in this programme. Over 20 beekeepers providing a representative geographical spread across the country are involved. A similar programme has also been rolled out across Northern Ireland. The sentinel apiary programme is designed with the objective of providing early notification in the event that any exotic pest or disease affecting honey bees arrives in Ireland. My Department co-ordinates the programme and has provided the equipment and guidelines to the beekeepers and also provides the diagnostic service to implement the programme.
In addition, a bee diagnostic service is operated from the Teagasc laboratories at Teagasc, Oakpark in Carlow. Analysis of approximately 300 samples submitted by beekeepers each year are carried out and my Department is informed where a case of a notifiable disease is detected. Officials in my Department follow up where appropriate.
The option of national action to limit or ban imports of bees must respect the primacy of EU Regulations. The EU has strict bee health certification requirements which apply to the international trade in bees. In accordance with Article 3 of Council Directive 92/65/EEC European Union Member States must not prohibit or restrict for health reasons the international movement of bees once all requirements set down in EU legislation have been met. While some Irish beekeepers seek to ban imports of bees into Ireland it must also be borne in mind that other Irish beekeepers wish to import these bees. Direct imports of bees into Ireland from outside the EU are not permitted although imports from other EU Member States which fulfil the EU’s bee health certification requirements are permitted.
92. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the criteria for the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38591/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the first tranche of GLAS proved hugely successful attracting nearly 27,000 applications in all. Applications were received from every single county and virtually every action was selected at some stage. On the basis of the interest shown to date, I have no doubt that GLAS will succeed in attracting the 50,000 applications projected for it over the lifetime of the scheme. On the basis of the plans submitted for the 27,000 applications received to date, we have already met or exceeded RDP targets for Low Input Permanent Pasture, Protection of Watercourses, Laying Hedgerows, Planting New Hedgerows, Planting of Traditional Orchards, Bird, Bee and Bat Habitats, Wild Bird Cover and Stone Wall Maintenance.
For the second tranche of GLAS, which I launched recently, I revisited the various actions that are available to farmers in the light of the substantial progress made to date. Not all the actions which have met or exceeded targets require to be adjusted, given that the associated spend is in many cases relatively easily accommodated within the total budget.
However, given the huge uptake on Low Input Permanent Pasture (LIPP), adjustments have been made to this action for the next tranche. It is still possible to take up to 10 hectares of either LIPP or Traditional Hay Meadow as before, but the LIPP component is limited to 5 hectares. While this means that we will still see permanent pasture coming into GLAS, I hope it will encourage more farmers to take the hay meadow option, which is well behind target, and which delivers the same payment per hectare.
In relation to the planting of new hedgerows, this action has been suspended for Tranche 2, along with the planting of traditional orchards. Both actions have met their targets for the entire RDP, and there are concerns about the availability of planting stock. I will, however, review this for Tranche 3. I have also reduced slightly the maximum length for coppicing from 1,000 metres to 750 metres. This action is well on target and if possible I would like to encourage farmers to continue to take up the hedge-laying option which has already proved very popular.
However, the changes being made for Tranche 2 of GLAS also include areas where greater flexibility is being provided. In particular for birds, and following discussion with stakeholders and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, I have introduced a number of changes which will make it easier for farmers to adapt to the new regimes required, and which will encourage even greater uptake. I am also providing for greater flexibility on Natura land and on protection of watercourses.
93. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of staff in his Department capable of dealing with the public in the Irish language; if there are training programmes in place for staff to improve their level of working Irish; the provision there is for other minority languages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38617/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of December 2014 there are 74 staff members within my Department proficient in the Irish language, with a further 265 having availed of Irish language training. This equates to 2.45% and 8.75% of the total staff respectively. Staff members can apply for Irish language training through the Learning & Development Unit, and each application is assessed on its own merit. Additionally, Staff members can also avail of the Refund of Fees programme to undertake Irish Language Diplomas through various Universities in Ireland.
Training in respect of other minority languages is similarly assessed on a case by case basis by the Learning & Development Unit. Requests for training are made primarily from staff members travelling abroad on official business for whom the knowledge of another language is a necessary element in undertaking their role.
94. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce the low-interest loans to farmers, as announced in June of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38633/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraEarlier this year, the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) presented a model guarantee instrument for agriculture, developed with in the framework of their Memorandum of Understanding on co-operation, to help ease access to finance for farmers and other rural businesses. Member States and regions can adapt and use this model to set up financial instruments funded by their rural development programmes (RDPs) under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). Financial instruments can take the form of loans, guarantee funds or equity investments. The funding for any such financial instruments would have to draw on Ireland’s existing RDP allocation of EAFRD funding, as well as National Exchequer funding.
In our RDP, we have made a commitment to examine the potential for the use of financial instruments. However, the inclusion of financial instruments by way of a modification to the RDP is required by EU regulation to be based on an ex ante evaluation, which must assess:
- The existence of a market failure;
- The potential for added value;
- The resources required to implement a proposed financial instrument; and
- The proposed strategic approach to financial instruments.
In addition to this, my Department has been exploring new and more competitive sources of funding and will continue to do so in the context of evolving market requirements. The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) was established by the Government as a strategic SME funding company and includes the EIB as one of its funding partners. Among its range of products is an ‘Agriculture Investment Loan’, available for investment by agricultural SMEs (including farmers) involved in primary agricultural production, the processing of agricultural products or the marketing of agricultural products. The features of these products are lower interest rates compared with those currently on the market, loan amounts up to €5m and increased repayment flexibility. Of the almost €45 million in loans approved and drawn down by SMEs between March and end-June from the SBCI, a third had been accessed by the agricultural sector.
