Written Answers Nos. 235-245
236. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications his Department has received, part-approved, fully approved and paid under tranche 1, 2 and 3 of the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2 by county in 2016 to date, in tabular form; the number of payments he has not yet issued; when he will issue them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16563/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails on a county basis of the number of applications received in Tranches 1, 2 and 3 (to date) and the full approvals issued for the following TAMS II Schemes, Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS), Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme (PPIS), Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWSNS), Dairy Equipment Scheme (DES), Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment (LESS) and Organic Capital Investment Scheme (OCIS) are in the tables. The applications in Tranche 1 were received in 2015, the applications in Tranche 2 were received in both 2015 and 2016. Tranche 3 is still open for receipt of applications up to the 24th of June 2016. To date, the total number of applications received is 5,217.
1,100 part approvals have issued. The County breakdown of this figure is now being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy shortly.
919 full approvals have issued to date. The County breakdown of this figure is given in the following tables.
It is expected that payments for TAMS II will commence in July.
Applications Received to date Total 5,217
|
- |
YFCIS |
AW S NS |
DES |
LESS |
Organic |
PPIS |
|
Carlow |
15 |
15 |
27 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
42 |
77 |
39 |
27 |
7 |
12 |
|
Clare |
55 |
76 |
42 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cork |
182 |
246 |
384 |
87 |
10 |
10 |
|
Donegal |
43 |
82 |
19 |
16 |
1 |
1 |
|
Dublin |
1 |
2 |
6 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Galway |
87 |
121 |
65 |
69 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
100 |
145 |
180 |
23 |
6 |
2 |
|
Kildare |
13 |
14 |
33 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
82 |
95 |
101 |
22 |
2 |
3 |
|
Laois |
32 |
35 |
43 |
12 |
4 |
0 |
|
Leitrim |
22 |
21 |
3 |
5 |
14 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
66 |
77 |
100 |
13 |
0 |
9 |
|
Longford |
16 |
20 |
7 |
11 |
4 |
1 |
|
Louth |
12 |
7 |
24 |
9 |
0 |
2 |
|
Mayo |
48 |
54 |
22 |
10 |
2 |
0 |
|
Meath |
23 |
51 |
57 |
10 |
2 |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
39 |
76 |
62 |
14 |
2 |
44 |
|
Offaly |
33 |
19 |
31 |
9 |
6 |
0 |
|
Roscommon |
38 |
71 |
5 |
16 |
15 |
0 |
|
Sligo |
25 |
27 |
6 |
13 |
5 |
0 |
|
Tipperary |
94 |
130 |
226 |
44 |
1 |
2 |
|
Waterford |
54 |
54 |
73 |
17 |
2 |
5 |
|
Westmeath |
19 |
38 |
34 |
17 |
5 |
1 |
|
Wexford |
56 |
54 |
101 |
16 |
0 |
3 |
|
Wicklow |
13 |
22 |
21 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
TOTAL |
1210 |
1629 |
1711 |
476 |
94 |
97 |
Full Approvals Issued to date Total 919
|
- |
YFCIS |
AW S NS |
DES |
LESS |
Organic |
PP I S |
|
Carlow |
4 |
2 |
22 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
|
Clare |
6 |
3 |
29 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cork |
22 |
34 |
70 |
44 |
10 |
0 |
|
Donegal |
5 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Dublin |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Galway |
9 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
5 |
10 |
22 |
1 |
6 |
0 |
|
Kildare |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
18 |
2 |
41 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
|
Laois |
0 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Leitrim |
3 |
10 |
0 |
2 |
14 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
5 |
10 |
34 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
Longford |
5 |
6 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
|
Louth |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mayo |
8 |
12 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Meath |
2 |
8 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
Monaghan |
0 |
9 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Offaly |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
|
Roscommon |
6 |
10 |
1 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
|
Sligo |
6 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
|
Tipperary |
22 |
40 |
30 |
10 |
1 |
0 |
|
Waterford |
11 |
3 |
35 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
|
Westmeath |
0 |
13 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
Wexford |
2 |
3 |
60 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wicklow |
0 |
1 |
18 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
TOTAL |
141 |
205 |
390 |
89 |
94 |
0 |
237. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the dairy forum and the beef forum will next meet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16564/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the programme for Government, a clear commitment was given to continue the work of the Beef Forum and Dairy Forum. I have been engaged in an intensive round of discussions with stakeholders since taking office with a view to listening to their views on the future strategic direction of the beef and dairy sectors.
The next meeting of the Dairy Forum is scheduled for next Tuesday, 21st June 2016. This meeting will continue in a similar format as before and the agenda will reflect the need to help find solutions to current market volatility for Irish farmers while providing a forum for relevant stakeholders to exchange views on these matters.
I will also be convening a meeting of the Beef Forum in the near future. However, I have not yet finalised a date for this meeting.
238. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he supports a review of the public intervention instrument and reference threshold levels for butter and skimmed milk powder, as permitted under the Common Agricultural Policy's regulation 1308/2013; if he had discussed this at European Union level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16565/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has already raised the question of an increase in intervention prices at EU level. It is clear at this point, however, that there is no prospect of securing the agreement of a qualified majority of member states, or the EU Commission, to such an increase.
However, I very much welcome the announcement by Commissioner Phil Hogan of his intention to increase the flat rate ceiling for SMP intervention buying-in up to 350,000 tonnes, following my recent meeting with him. SMP Intervention is key EU support tool for dairy markets and is badly needed in this extended period of downward price volatility in the dairy sector. Intervention helps to put a floor under prices and this extension will be of particular benefit for Irish producers through the peak production period. Other measures agreed at EU level include Aids to Private Storage for Cheese and a targeted direct aid scheme of €13.7 million for Irish farmers, which was matched by national funds.
I am fully aware of the pressures on dairy farmers right now and I am committed to working with all players in the sector to address these issues and ensure that we have a sustainable dairy sector going forward. In this regard I have called a meeting of the Dairy Forum for next Tuesday 21st June with all stakeholders to discuss the relevant issues.
I can assure the deputy that I will continue to engage with the EU Commission and with other Member States to ensure that market support measures are deployed and extended as necessary.
239. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the original value his Department put on beef export targets to the US for 2015; the actual value realised; his 2016 beef export targets in value terms; and when Irish manufacturing beef will be permitted to enter the market in the US. [16566/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s role in relation to market access is to ensure that Ireland’s control systems meet the veterinary and animal health requirements of the importing country. Ultimately the volume and value of trade depends on relative commodity prices, global supply, currency exchange rates trade and other factors. US consumption of beef is estimated at 11 million tonnes, approximately 1 million of which is imported. The potential prize for Irish operators is therefore, subject to the variables already outlined, very significant, particularly in circumstances where grass fed hormone free beef is gaining traction in the market place.
Ireland received a major reputational boost in 2015 as the first EU Member State to gain access to the US market for beef. This was opened to Irish exports in January 2015 and six plants are approved to export. As with any new market, it takes time to build reputational brand and a customer base, and the real time to assess its value is when these are bedded down.
In volume terms, by the end of December 2015 the figures for exports of beef from Ireland to the US had risen to an estimated 1,800 tonnes which would have an approximate value of €11.5 million. This represents an exceptionally strong start to this trade considering that the first exports only went in March 2015 and some of the plants were only approved for export in September.
In Quarter 1 of 2016 approximately 700 tonnes with a value of €6 million are estimated to have been exported to the USA, continuing the positive trends from last year. The trade is currently confined to the market for intact cuts, but we are currently seeking approval to export manufacturing beef/Beef Intended for Grinding (BIFG). My Department is engaging with the US authorities on a regular basis to extend the approval for beef in this way.
US beef prices have fallen back from the peaks recorded in the early part of 2015, and the relatively high prices available for beef in Europe in 2015 meant that US buyers may have been priced out of the market as Irish exporters chose to send product to more valuable markets in the UK and on the continent.
There has also been significant progress in facilitating trade in other international markets for Irish beef. My Department continues to push strongly for market access to other Third Countries and we are currently in the process of trying to secure beef access to other third countries including, inter alia, China, Korea, Israel, Ukraine and Vietnam. It is my intention to continue to focus on developing as many third country markets as possible in order to provide exporters as many commercial opportunities as possible in a competitive global marketplace.
240. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the European Union and non-European Union states to which Ireland has access to export live cattle, in tabular form; the new markets he will open in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16567/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish cattle have access to all EU Member States. The non-European Union countries to which live Irish cattle exports have market access currently are set out in the following table.
|
Member State |
Third Country |
Type/Health Certificate |
|
IRELAND |
LEBANON |
Breeding cattle <36mts Fattening/slaughter cattle<36mts |
|
LIBYA |
Fattening & Slaughter cattle/males<24mts |
|
|
MOROCCO |
Beef cattle |
|
|
RUSSIA |
Breeding Cattle |
|
|
TUNISIA |
Fattening Cattle Breeding Heifers |
New Markets open in 2016
|
Member State |
Third Country |
Type/Health Certificate |
|
IRELAND |
ALGERIA |
Breeding Cattle Male Bovines for further feeding/immediate slaughter |
|
EGYPT |
Slaughtering cattle |
|
|
SERBIA |
Breeding and Production Cattle |
|
|
TURKEY |
Cattle for fattening Cattle for slaughter Breeding Cattle (Male & Female) |
The main destinations for live bovines in 2015 and to date are UK, NL, Italy, Spain and France.
My Department, in co-operation with Bord Bia and the Irish embassies have successfully opened markets in Algeria, Egypt, Serbia and Turkey this year and will continue to actively support the development of the live cattle trade. The opening of the Turkish market represents a significant achievement and comes at a very opportune time in advance of the expected larger number of stock coming to the market in late summer.
241. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why previous large-scale live cattle exports to Belgium have declined; his plans to rectify this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16568/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraLive exports from Ireland to Belgium have reduced considerably largely as a consequence of the introduction by Belgium of a compulsory national Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) eradication programme. Under EU legislation, Member States who have compulsory disease eradication programmes in place or who have freedom from particular diseases, such as IBR, are entitled to additional guarantees when bovine animals are being traded into these states or regions. The Belgian programme was approved by the Commission in 2014.
Teagasc is currently undertaking a cost benefit analysis of the implementation of a national IBR eradication programme in Ireland and the results are expected to be available later in the year. A decision on whether or not to proceed with a national IBR eradication programme will be taken in light of the outcome of the Teagasc study in consultation with stakeholders.
242. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will allocate the underspend on agri-environmental schemes under the rural development programme in 2015 to schemes under the programme in the remaining window of the Common Agricultural Policy; the status of unused funding after 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16569/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe agri-environment-climate measure, Measure 10, of the Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020 includes the Green Low-Carbon Agri- Environment Scheme (GLAS), transitional funding for AEOS and REPS arising from commitments in the 2007 - 2013 RDP, the Beef Data Genomics Programme and The Burren Programme. All new schemes and programmes, with the exception of the Burren Programme which commenced in 2016, were rolled out in 2015 with very successful take- up. GLAS continues to recruit participants and now has 38,000 farmers in the Scheme, with the expectation that this will rise to the targeted 50,000 in 2017. The Burren Programme has 202 participants and we would expect that number to at least double by 2018 and there are 25,000 farmers signed up to BDGP. These numbers are in line with our projections.
The entire spend for Measure 10 in 2015 amounted to some €133m and in view of current and projected up-take there is every expectation that the full allocation for the Measure under the RDP will be used during the lifetime of the Programme.
As regards funding after 2020, Member States have until 31st December, 2023 to pay for RDP 2014 -2020 commitments and multi-annual contracts such as agri-environment schemes can go beyond 2020.
243. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average annual payment farmers will be entitled to draw down, based on current participation rates under the GLAS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16570/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSome 38,000 farmers have been approved into the GLAS scheme under the first two tranches launched in 2015. The full value of these contracts will only be calculated later this year when the 2016 payments, the first full calendar year of their five-year contracts, are processed. It is only when this full year payment processing is complete that the definitive average payment per contract will be available.
However the latest estimate I have for the average basic annual contract value for GLAS Tranche 1 and GLAS Tranche 2 applications is €4,600. In addition some 2,500 applicants are currently expected to qualify for a GLAS + payment worth on average an additional €1,800. When GLAS + payments are included the overall average contract value for the Scheme will increase.
244. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider re-opening the beef data and genomics scheme to new applications, given that participation rates are well below the original participation target set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16571/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and will provide suckler farmers in Ireland with some €300 million of funding over the next 6 years. The BDGP builds on the investment in data recording and genomics in recent years, and will ultimately bring about long-term improvements to the sector by fundamentally improving the genetic quality of the beef herd.
The Beef Data and Genomics Programme has been agreed with the European Commission as part of the Rural Development Plan (2014-2020) for Ireland. I am conscious of the positive impact that the BDGP will have on the Irish suckler herd both in meeting the objectives of the scheme in the context of the commitments Irish agriculture must make in the area of Climate Change and also in improving the productivity and profitability of the Irish suckler herd.
Any decision on the extension of the scheme will take place within the context of an assessment of budgetary priorities, the operations of the Rural Development Programme and the potential impact on other schemes.
245. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria he is considering for the amended application to receive European Union approval for the sheep payment scheme under the rural development programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16572/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe programme for Government committed to introducing a new sheep scheme under the Rural Development Programme with a budget of €25 million provided in Budget 2017. In this regard a submission will be made to the European Commission shortly.
In relation to the design of the scheme, my Department is currently in consultation with the stakeholders. Any scheme must be both acceptable to the European Commission in the context of the requirements of the Rural Development Programme and also take account of the different production systems in the Irish sheep flock.
It is my intention that this scheme will be designed in order to maximise the number of applicants and to deliver clear benefits to the sheep sector in terms of its impact to on farm practices. Any such scheme must also meet the exacting requirements for EU funding approval.
This scheme, in addition to the existing supports available to sheep farmers under the BPS, GLAS, ANC and TAMS will make a vital contribution to ensuring the continued viability of the Irish sheep sector.
