Written Answers Nos. 390-409
390. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full-time and part-time staff from his Department that are working directly on the sustainability support and advisory programme; and the annual Exchequer funding that will be allocated to this programme. [52783/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ‘Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme’ is a new approach to achieving improvement in water quality involving the establishment and joint funding of a resource of 30 Agricultural Sustainability Advisors.
This 4 year Programme supports the goals of the Food Wise 2025 strategy, facilitating increased productivity hand in hand with a more sustainable sector. This sustainability and efficiency will be achieved through improved nutrient management with more targeted use of fertiliser, better farmyard practice, more widespread use of sustainability approaches developed by Teagasc and the development of new approaches to reducing nutrient losses in critical source areas.
Through a commitment from both the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and support by industry, the 30 Advisors will work within a unified partnership structure which encompasses Teagasc, the Co-ops and the local authorities Water and Communities Office (LAWCO). The new Sustainability Advisors will proactively advise and work with farmers to protect and improve water quality. The Programme will draw on the experience and resources of key sectoral and industry stakeholders including the two Departments, the local authorities, the Dairy Co-ops, Teagasc, Bord Bia and the farm organisations.
Under the Programme, the new team will promote on-farm sustainability best practice to all farmers. In addition, local authorities - with the technical support of the Environmental Protection Agency - will identify risk areas at local level. Teagasc and the Co-ops will then provide advice and support to farmers in managing on-farm risks, working also with local farm organisations. The Co-ops will support sustainability best practice through their structures, promoting best farm practice and nutrient management processes across all their suppliers.
The Programme has the potential to strengthen delivery of Ireland’s obligations under the Water Framework Directive. It is part of a new approach to River Basin Management Planning for the 2018 – 2021 cycle. This new approach includes the development of a much-strengthened evidence base to understand the full range of pressures affecting water quality and the development of the programmes of measures needed to deliver improvements. Over time, the Programme will also address on-farm climate change and biodiversity strategies.
The Programme will be jointly funded by both Departments, Teagasc, local authorities and the Dairy Co-ops on a trial basis for four years to 2021. My staff are incorporating oversight of this programme as part of their existing work programme.
391. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which funds will be used that the European Commission is returning to member states from unused crisis reserve funds; and the amount Ireland will receive. [52784/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the context of the annual budgetary procedure of the European Union, the financial discipline mechanism involves a monetary deduction from some direct payments thereby creating a financial Crisis Reserve for the European Union. The crisis reserve is intended to provide additional support for the agriculture sector in the case of major crises affecting agricultural production or distribution. In the event that the Crisis Reserve is not activated in the financial year, or it is not fully utilised, the balance not used is refunded to farmers in the subsequent financial year.
As outlined in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2197 of 27th of November 2017, the crisis reserve fund was not required in the 2017 financial year. As a result of this, a total amount of €13,229,176 is available for reimbursement to Ireland. In accordance with the regulations, this amount must be reimbursed to eligible applicants who were subject to a financial discipline reduction in the previous financial year.
392. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment to agricultural advisers and consultants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52802/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is expected that payments in respect of course participants will begin to issue to approved GLAS trainers before the end of this month, as indicated in the question.
The payment to facilitators will then follow starting the following month subject to them satisfactorily confirming that their course participants have been paid in full.
393. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his officials have carried out inspections at a location (details supplied); if reports of these inspections will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52822/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraReports of alleged animal welfare concerns at Ashton pound were received by my Department via the dedicated welfare email address on the week beginning Monday 20 November.
My Department maintains a close working relationship with Local Authorities on dog welfare matters. South Dublin County Council and Dublin City Council scheduled two unannounced inspections by veterinary officers on 23rd and 27th of November respectively.
Veterinary inspectors from both Local Authorities have reported that the pound conformed to appropriate animal welfare standards.
394. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to implement legislation regulating sulky driving and improve the management of horses and ponies in view of an incident (details supplied). [52928/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe use of sulkies on the public roads is governed by the Road Traffic Acts which impose an obligation on persons engaged in any activity on the public roads, including the driving of sulkies, to drive their vehicles with due care for other road users and not to indulge in dangerous driving of the vehicles.
In addition to the Road Traffic Acts, local authorities also have powers under the Control of Horses Act, 1996 to introduce bye-laws regulating activities involving horses in their respective functional areas.
My Department wishes to raise the awareness of the critical importance of good horse welfare amongst those using sulkies and the owners and keepers of trotting horses. In this regard, my Department recently published a tender seeking to engage a provider of a relevant education programme to assist in this process. A key element of the programme’s intent will be to encourage participants to move from the practice of competing on roads and to encourage engagement in regulated Irish Harness Racing Association activities.
395. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has been informed of the fate of greyhounds once they leave the country; when the greyhound industry (amendment) Bill will be published; his plans to include an amendment to prevent the export of greyhounds to countries in which the welfare standards are below those here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52953/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe draft General Scheme of the Greyhound Industry Bill has progressed through the pre-legislative scrutiny phase. It is hoped that a memorandum will go to Government in January, which will request approval to publish the updated General Scheme and to submit it to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for drafting.
I fully endorse Bord na gCon’s (BnaG) advice to all owners involved in the export of greyhounds to only export to destinations that provide the expected levels of greyhound care and management as defined in its Code of Practice. Bord na gCon is responsible for the regulation of the greyhound industry and the well-being of greyhounds in Ireland.
I am aware of media reports alleging mistreatment of greyhounds. The position is that once animal health and welfare certification requirements, and the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 1 of 2005 on the protection of animals during transport, are met, dogs, including greyhounds, may be moved within the EU or exported to a non-EU country. Our records indicate that no greyhounds have been directly exported from Ireland to Asia to date in 2017. The main destination for Irish dogs and greyhounds moved abroad continues to be the UK.
396. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person's (details supplied) eligibility for an ANC payment from 2015 will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52991/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme was received from the person named on 7 May 2015 and payment issued directly to the person named on 23 September 2015.
In relation to the application for the 2016 Scheme, the Terms and Conditions of the ANC Scheme set out that, under EU Regulation 21/2004, all flock owners and sheep keepers are obliged to count the sheep in their flock, record this number in the flock register and thereafter are legally obliged to return this number to my Department via the annual Sheep/Goat Census return. The closing date for the receipt of census returns for acceptance under the 2016 ANC scheme was 16 May 2016. The Census return of the person named was not received in My Department until 23 May 2016.
Processing of the 2016 ANC application of the person named identified that the holding concerned had not met these eligibility criteria as outlined in the Terms and Conditions. A Department official was in direct contact with the agent representing the person named regarding the late return of the sheep census on 15 June 2017. A formal letter has issued to the person named informing him of the findings and of his right to seek a review of this decision within ninety days to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
397. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to raise the limit for investments for the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, currently at €80,000, to allow greater scope for farmers to develop their business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52997/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTAMS II has been very successful to date in terms of uptake with the number of approvals that have issued exceeding 11,660. All of these approvals represent committed expenditure under the TAMS II measure of the Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020. Until such time as these approvals are acted upon or expire the budget for TAMS must include provision for the potential expenditure involved. There are no proposals at present to increase the investment ceilings.
Of the applications approved 2,900 payment claims have been received to date. Payment claims submitted continue to be paid on an ongoing basis. However, until such time as the works applied for and approved have been completed and payment claims submitted, payments cannot issue. All participants who have completed approved works are urged to submit their payment claims immediately to facilitate early payment.
398. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an appeal process is available to farmers in respect of the minimum of 3 ha of forage land which a person owns and farms to qualify for ANC; if the case of a person (details supplied) will be considered in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53006/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms and conditions of the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme, applicants are required to occupy and farm in their own right and at their own risk a minimum of 3 hectares of ANC forage land in an eligible area.
As the person named only farms 2.93 hectares of ANC land they are not eligible for payment under the scheme.
Where farmers are unhappy with the outcome of their scheme application they may, in the first instance, seek in writing a review of the decision. Reviews can be sought in the first instance from the manager of the particular payment section involved.
If the internal review does not resolve the position to the satisfaction of the farmer, appeals can be made to the Agriculture Appeals Office (AAO), which is an independent statutory agency, which provides an independent, impartial and free appeals service to farmers who are dissatisfied with decisions of DAFM regarding their entitlements under certain schemes.
Full details of appeals procedures, including details of the Schemes covered, are available on the Agriculture Appeals Office website at www.agriappeals.gov.ie or from the Department’s local offices. Appeals should be addressed to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
If at the end of the appeals procedure the farmer feels his/her case has not been dealt with fully they can seek the assistance of the Ombudsman by contacting the Office of the Ombudsman.
399. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 960 of 7 November 2017, his plans to develop satellite food innovation hubs throughout the State to work in conjunction with the National Food Innovation Hub in Fermoy; his plans to consider Naas, County Kildare, as a suitable location for such a satellite food innovation hub; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53017/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is providing €8.8m in exchequer funding towards the development of a National Food Innovation Hub at Moorepark with the aim of creating a supportive environment for research and innovation involving food companies and research organisations with a focus on food, health and nutrition.
This is seen as a strategically important project for Ireland’s agri-food sector in general, especially in the context of Brexit, which poses enormous challenges for the sector by virtue of its reliance on the UK market, and the associated challenges in developing new markets and value added products.
The National Food Innovation Hub directly addresses one of the challenges identified in the Food Wise 2025 report, namely the current low levels of R&D expenditure by the Irish agri-food sector. The project is part of a broader strategic framework funded by my Department to encourage research and development in the agri-food sector. The inclusion of a large number of topics relating to food in my Department’s recent Call for Research Proposals very much underscores my commitment to this effort. Publicly funded research is now even more necessary to help drive innovation, competitiveness and long-term sustainability in the food sector as we prepare for Brexit.
It’s expected that the National Food Innovation Hub will be instrumental in increasing the rate of research and innovation in the dairy sector and wider food industry. Whilst my Department has no plans to fund similar projects at other locations, a major package of measures was announced in Budget 2018 to help the food industry navigate the current challenges arising from Brexit and to advance the growth objectives of Food Wise 2025. For example, in the areas of innovation, research and new product development an investment of €5m is planned to fund research and innovation in the important Prepared Consumer Foods Sector.
400. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of cross-compliance and non-compliance fines collected by his Department in 2015 and 2016; the value of such fines collected in the period concerned which were refunded to the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53026/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is currently being complied and it will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
401. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he plans to appoint the members of the control committee and appeals committee as recommended by a company (details supplied) in 2014. [53091/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the recommendations made in the Indecon and Morris Reports and also in the report of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I have introduced a draft General Scheme of the Greyhound Industry Bill. The Bill addresses the recommendation referred to by the Deputy as part of the measures being introduced to strengthen regulatory controls and improve integrity in the industry. The Bill also modernises sanctions and addresses governance in Bord na gCon.
The draft General Scheme of the Bill has progressed through the pre-legislative scrutiny phase and a memorandum will go to Government in early 2018 requesting approval to publish the updated General Scheme and to submit it to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for drafting.
402. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds in the national racing pool by track; and the years in which they were whelped, in tabular form. [53092/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord na gCon is a commercial State body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry.
Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Accordingly, the information being requested by the Deputy has been forwarded to Bord na gCon for direct reply.
403. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of active greyhound owners, by county, in tabular form. [53093/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord na gCon is a commercial State body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry.
Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Accordingly, the information being requested by the Deputy has been forwarded to Bord na gCon for direct reply.
404. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds that coursed in the 2015-16 season; the number of those greyhounds that coursed in the 2016-17 season; and the number of greyhounds that were identified to the club as being deceased in 2016, in tabular form. [53094/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, the regulation of coursing is chiefly a matter for the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) subject to the general control of Bord na gCon.
I have been advised by the ICC that the information requested by the Deputy cannot be provided in the short time available and will therefore be forwarded to the Deputy directly in the coming days.
405. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a veterinary surgeon is present at official and unofficial trials at Irish Greyhound Board trialling sessions. [53095/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry.
Bord na gCon has informed me that a veterinary surgeon is in attendance at all race meetings and sales trials at Bord na gCon licenced stadia to ensure that appropriate care is provided to injured greyhounds and to advise the stewards on matters relating to greyhound welfare. A veterinary surgeon is not present at official and unofficial trials; however, contact details for a local veterinary surgeon can be provided by the track hosting the trials if the need arose.
406. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding unpaid farm payments in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53117/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 30% balancing payment under the 2017 Basic Payment Scheme is due to issue to the person named very shortly.
The person named had 0.35 unused payment entitlements under the 2015 and 2016 Basic Payment Scheme years which are now due to revert to the National Reserve because they are unused. A letter has issued to the person named in the past week to inform him of this non-usage and to provide him with an opportunity to appeal this decision to the Department within 14 days if he wishes to do so.
407. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when Carbury, County Kildare, will have access to fibre broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52604/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that today over 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. This is set to increase to 77% (1.8m premises) by the end of 2018 and to 90% (2.1m premises) by the end of 2020.
In April I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan (NBP).
The Map is colour coded and searchable by address/eircode:
- The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
- The BLUE areas represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The Light BLUE areas represent eir's commercial rural deployment plans to roll out high speed broadband to 300,000 premises by the end of 2018 as part of an Agreement signed with me in April.
The map shows that there are no premises in the townland of Carbury which fall within the AMBER area. 90% (54) fall within the BLUE area and 10% (6) are LIGHT BLUE.
Information on eir's planned rural deployment, including estimated rollout times, is available at http://fibrerollout.ie/eircode-lookup/. A copy of the Commitment Agreement is available on my Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie as are quarterly updates on eir's rural deployment. eir has committed to completing the rollout by the end of 2018.
In the interim, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure. There is a link to a list of these local Broadband Officers on my Department's website.
408. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of his recent discussions with the board of Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, regarding the review of pike controls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52644/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra409. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the concerns being expressed in counties Mayo and Galway about proposals to relax pike control; his views on whether these proposals will harm trout fisheries in particular; if his attention has been further drawn to the importance of the wild brown trout fisheries in these counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52645/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 409 together.
IFI has been involved in the management of pike in designated Wild Brown Trout Fisheries for a number of years. In August 2014 IFI launched policies on brown trout and pike. These policies, approved by the Board of IFI, were developed by two working groups which included inter alia representatives from the main Trout and Pike Angling Federations.
A review of these policies was scheduled to commence in 2017. However, recognising the views of some stakeholders in relation to elements of the policies, the Board of IFI decided to bring forward the review period and commence the process in 2016 with a public consultation process. The public consultation process was held in November 2016 through which more than 300 submissions were received.
One of the most important issues considered in the previous policies relates to the management of pike in designated Wild Brown Trout fisheries. In late 2016, a Review Group, across all disciplines in IFI, was established to specifically consider this issue. The Review Group met with Pike and Trout representative bodies in January 2017 following which representatives from a number of these organisations were invited to join the Group.
In May 2017, the Group, including the pike and trout angling representatives, met for two information gathering meetings at which a number of expert scientists made presentations. The Review Group subsequently reviewed and assimilated the data and information provided during the two information gathering meetings. The Group reconvened in September 2017.
The presentations delivered to the Group, along with minutes of the meetings and the public consultation submissions, are publicly available on the IFI website: www.fisheriesireland.ie.
IFI have advised that the report of the Review Group is expected to be finalised in 2018. Therefore, no proposals have been made as regards relaxing pike controls or any other matter. Decisions on any change in the management of Pike and Trout will be made as soon as possible after the Group reports.
I want to emphasise that while the policy review is underway, delivery of current IFI pike management practices has continued in line with the existing policy. Therefore, there has been no change to current policy or practice regarding the management of pike in designated wild brown trout fisheries. Stock management operations are normally commenced in February each year and IFI will continue to implement stock management programmes, in line with current policy.
