Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
1140. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the grant aids, incentives and other supports which are currently available to persons and organisations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19714/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of supports and initiatives to encourage and assist beekeepers and the beekeeping associations recognising the important role bees play within agriculture and for biodiversity as both pollinators and honey producers, the value of honey bees as pollinators far exceeding their value as honey producers.
In terms of grants directly available to individual beekeepers and national beekeeping associations, my Department implements the annual Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector under which beekeepers can apply for funding. This competitive grant aid Scheme is fully funded by the Irish Exchequer and provides up to 40% grant aid (50% for approved applicants under 35 years of age) towards the cost of approved capital investments in specialised horticultural equipment and buildings. These include investments in bee breeding and honey production equipment as well as facilities e.g. honey houses, honey extractors and bottling equipment. Grant aid is not paid for bee colonies. The minimum proposed investment for beekeepers is €2,000 excluding VAT.
In addition my Department also pays annual grants to Irish National Beekeepers associations to help their associated members and branches to pursue the craft of beekeeping to the highest standards and to also inform the general public about the environmental role that bees play in maintaining Irish bio-diversity and crop production.
Recognising the importance of maintaining a healthy honey bee population the Department has put a number of measures in place over time. These include establishment of a sentinel apiary programme, introduction of legislation relating to the control of diseases in bees, funding to cover the costs of bee disease diagnosis, controls on the imports of bees and co-funding of Ireland’s National Apiculture Programme.
The National Apiculture programme 2016-2019, which is co-funded by the EU and my Department, is providing annual funding totalling €72,000 towards research projects aimed at improving overall honey bee health in Ireland. The current National Apiculture Programme is exploring the efficacy of alternative controls for Varroa under Irish conditions as well as monitoring Irish over-winter colony losses, in addition to providing technical assistance to beekeepers through workshops and lectures at local associations of the federation of Irish Beekeepers. This applied research programme has a strong emphasis on dissemination of results to beekeepers and is designed to benefit all Irish beekeepers.
Potential funding for beekeeping groups is also available under the Scheme for Conservation of Genetic Resources to develop breeding programmes/strategies to protect the Irish Dark Native Honey Bees.
This year my Department is providing further support through funding the cost of sample analysis for all samples submitted by beekeepers to the Bee Disease diagnostic service provided by Teagasc at Oakpark in Carlow. This means that beekeepers can now submit samples of bees or honey for disease diagnosis for free.
