Written Answers Nos. 381-395
381. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons in receipt of the basic payment scheme, BPS, whose entitlements have reached at least 60% of the basic payment scheme national average based on 2017 data. [19759/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of persons in receipt of the Basic Payment Scheme whose entitlements have reached at least 60% of the Basic Payment Scheme national average based on 2017 data is thirty three thousand, one hundred and seventeen (33,117).
382. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons in receipt of the basic payment scheme, BPS, who received a payment per hectare in ranges (details supplied) based on 2017 data in tabular form. [19760/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information being requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
383. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reconsider his decision and implement a meal voucher scheme in view of the ongoing fodder crisis; his plans to use the EU crisis fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19824/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to pressures on fodder supplies caused by a long wet winter and spring I introduced a national Fodder Transport Support measure in January of this year, followed in April by a Fodder Import Support measure. These two interventions working together effectively addressed issues around fodder availability in the country. Grass growth, as confirmed by Teagasc assessments, has continued to improve significantly and livestock are out to graze. However, ground conditions were slow to improve in some areas and in a concluding response to remaining fodder difficulties I decided to extend both measures by one week until yesterday 7th May.
It is important that we learn some of the lessons from this spring and build resilience into our systems going forward. I have asked Teagasc to chair a stakeholder group to coordinate advisory messages to farmers this summer around replenishing stocks that have been used up.
384. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions that have been taken to date to progress proposals to establish a consultation process to review the options for more restricted access for large fishing vessels fishing by means of trawls inside the six nautical mile zone; if submissions from all interested stakeholders are being accepted in respect of same; if so, the timeframe for submissions to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19878/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe public consultation process on trawling activity within the 6 nautical mile zone began on Monday 30th April 2018 and will run to Monday 11th June 2018. The consultation paper and accompanying reports by the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara are available on the Department's website, along with information on how to participate in the consultation process.
385. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19892/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe above named was approved into GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of January 1st 2017.
Administrative checks involving a number of sections within the Department take place on all GLAS claims. All cases must clear validation checks before payment can issue. Department officials are working proactively to complete the checks in this case. Once this case clears validations the 2017 advance payment will be made. GLAS payments are being made on a weekly basis.
386. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19931/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named is a participant in my Department's Organic Farming Scheme (OFS). This person is fully up to date with their payment under the scheme.
387. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of new staff hires and replacement staff, respectively, recruited in Bord Bia since the Brexit referendum in June 2016 by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19949/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe question of new staff hires and replacement staff recruited since the Brexit referendum in June 2016 within the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency.
I have referred the Deputy’s question to Bord Bia and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
388. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of new staff hires and replacement staff recruited since the Brexit referendum in June 2016 in State agencies and bodies under his aegis (details supplied) by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19950/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe question of new staff hires and replacement staff recruited since the Brexit referendum in June 2016 within the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency.
I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies in question and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
389. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding allocated to Bord Bia, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Teagasc and the Marine Institute by capital and current allocations in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [19951/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe allocations voted to the bodies listed are set out in the following tables. As allocations are voted for the calendar year the information for 2018 is in respect of the full year rather than year to date.
In addition to the allocations voted to Teagasc and Bord Bia, those bodies receive additional funding from my Department in respect of other specific programmes they administer. Teagasc also receives payments in respect of the provision of certain services.
Teagasc
|
- |
Current |
Capital |
|
2014 |
107,210 |
1,500 |
|
2015 |
109,639 |
1,500 |
|
2016 |
113,880 |
2,400 |
|
2017 |
124,920 |
3,210 |
|
2018 |
129,432 |
5,150 |
When my department's vote structure was amended in 2017, the Teagasc subhead was changed to include directly an amount of €10.5m for training which it received under a separate sub head before 2017.
Bord Bia
|
- |
Current |
Capital |
|
2014 |
28,690 |
0 |
|
2015 |
31,744 |
0 |
|
2016 |
32,492 |
0 |
|
2017 |
41,092 |
0 |
|
2018 |
41,266 |
0 |
Marine Institute
|
- |
Current |
Capital |
|
2014 |
13,480 |
10,000 |
|
2015 |
18,121 |
8,500 |
|
2016 |
19,309 |
10,000 |
|
2017 |
21,563 |
10,000 |
|
2018 |
22,465 |
10,000 |
Bord Iascaigh Mhara
|
- |
Current |
Capital |
|
2014 |
11,984 |
6,500 |
|
2015 |
12,516 |
6,500 |
|
2016* |
19,430 |
11,750 |
|
2017* |
21,588 |
18,000 |
|
2018 |
26,025 |
13,100 |
*Revised allocation post 2016 and 2017 Supplementary Estimate Process.
390. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of revenue that would be forgone in each category (details supplied) in the livestock sector if the fee amount for each was reduced by percentages, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19952/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast year my Department reduced the veterinary inspection fee payable on live exports of calves under three months of age to €1.20 per animal, from €4.80. This gave an important boost to the trade in young calves, and brought greater equity in the fees payable for calves, weanlings and adult cattle.
Exports of calves rose by 20%, to just over 100, 000, in 2017 compared to 2016. The inspection fee for bovines over three months remains unchanged at €4.80.
The cost of reducing the veterinary inspection fee payable on live exports of calves under three months of age can be illustrated as follows:
Veterinary inspection fees for a load of say 100 calves under three months of age come to €120. If reduced by 20%, the inspection fee would come to €96. If reduced by 40%, the inspection fee would come to €72. If reduced by 60%, the inspection fee would come to €48. If reduced by 80%, the inspection fee would come to €40.
Similarly, the cost of reducing the veterinary inspection fee payable on bovines over three months of age can be illustrated as follows:
If the inspection fee of €4.80 was reduced by 20%, the inspection fee for a load of 100 cattle would come to €384. If reduced by 40% the inspection fee would come to €288. If reduced by 60%, the inspection fee would come to €192. If reduced by 80%, the inspection fee would come to €96.
Animal health and welfare are important contributory factors to the quality and safety of food, and to the prevention of the spread of animal diseases. The veterinary inspection of live animals for export contributes to maintaining Ireland's reputation as an exporter of livestock of high health status, which is vital to my Department's ongoing efforts to source additional markets abroad. EU Member States are obliged under the EU Official Controls Regulation (882/2004) to carry out official controls to verify compliance with animal health and welfare rules.
391. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the proposal that all animals which come from a quality assured farm should receive some level of bonus as a way to encourage farmers to participate fully in the Bord Bia quality assurance schemes; the cost of introducing such a measure; and the number of farmers participating in all such schemes, in tabular form. [20047/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I have no role in setting pricing structures for any market commodity.
The Quality Assurance Schemes operated by Bord Bia have been developed over a period of years and extend beyond the farm gate as vertical industry integrated schemes. Participation in the schemes is voluntary. The latest iteration of the quality assurance scheme, was launched in April 2017.
The scheme was developed partly to address the increasing demand from purchasers of Irish meat products, both nationally and internationally, for verifiable evidence that Irish meat, including beef, was produced sustainably on farms that were certified members of an accredited Quality Assurance Scheme. This evidence which comes from participation in the schemes adds value to farmers businesses.
I understand that at the end of 2017 there were 51,500 farmers accredited to the scheme. Information relating to operational matters can be obtained directly from Bord Bia.
392. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the planting targets per hectare for categories (details supplied) over the 2014 to 2017 period for the forestry programme 2014-2020; the actual number of hectares planted in each year for the categories; and the number of hectares planted out of each annual target set on a percentage basis, in tabular form. [20049/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlanting under the forestry Programme 2014 – 2020 commenced in 2015. My Department recently completed a mid-term review of the Forestry Programme, the results of which were published last February. The table below, included in the MTR, shows the target area in each of the categories and that actually planted for the years 2015 to 2017.
|
Grant and Premium Categories (GPC) |
Forestry Programme Target |
Actual Planted Area (ha) |
% of Target |
Forestry Programme Target |
Actual Planted Area (ha) |
% of Target |
Forestry Programme Target |
Actual Planted Area (ha) |
% of Target |
|
|
2015 |
2015 |
2015 |
2016 |
2016 |
2016 |
2017 |
2017 |
2017 |
|
Overall target |
6,000 |
6,293 |
104.88 |
6,660 |
6,500 |
97.60 |
7,140 |
5,536 |
77.54 |
|
GPC 1 - 8 |
5,440 |
6,155 |
113.14 |
5,990 |
6,340 |
105.84 |
6,165 |
5,262 |
85.35 |
|
Native Woodland |
450 |
134 |
29.78 |
450 |
159 |
35.33 |
450 |
269 |
59.78 |
|
Agro-forestry |
10 |
0 |
0.00 |
20 |
1 |
5.00 |
25 |
5 |
20.00 |
|
Forestry for fibre |
100 |
0 |
0.00 |
200 |
0 |
0.00 |
500 |
0 |
0.00 |
393. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants for each listed planting category (details supplied) over the 2014 to 2017 period for the forestry programme 2014-2020 by farmer and non-farmer respectively, in tabular form; and the current grant premium rates in operation for each category. [20050/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently collating the figures for the planting categories by Farmer and non-Farmer as requested and they will be with the Deputy shortly.
Following the recent mid-term review of the Forestry Programme, the results of which were published on my Department’s website, I introduced new Grant and Premium rates for each of the grant and premium categories. I would like to highlight that a higher annual premium is now available for new plantings on sites over 10ha.
|
GPC |
1st Grant |
2nd Grant €/ha |
Additional fencing Allocation (IS436), 140m/ha |
Total Grant Available €/ha |
|
GPC 1 – Unenclosed |
€1,605 |
€535 |
€600 |
€2,740 |
|
GPC 2 - Sitka spruce / Lodgepole pine |
€2,330 |
€775 |
€600 |
€3,705 |
|
GPC 3 – 15% Diverse Conifer e.g. Sitka spruce and 15% broadleaves |
€2,410 |
€805 |
€600 |
€3,815 |
|
GPC 4 – Diverse Conifer e.g., Scots pine, Douglas Fir |
€2,785 |
€925 |
€600 |
€4,310 |
|
GPC 5 – Broadleaf e.g. sycamore |
€3,960 |
€1,320 |
€600 |
€5,880 |
|
GPC 6 – Oak |
€4,215 |
€1,405 |
€600 |
€6,220 |
|
GPC 7 – Beech |
€4,215 |
€1,405 |
€600 |
€6,220 |
|
GPC 8 – Alder and Birch |
€2,695 |
€900 |
€600 |
€4,195 |
|
GPC 9- Native Woodland Establishment (oak-birch-holly-hazel) |
€4,215 |
€1,405 |
€600 |
€6,220 |
|
GPC 10- Native Woodland Establishment (alder-oak woodland) |
€3,960 |
€1,320 |
€600 |
€5,880 |
|
GPC 11 - Agro-forestry |
€4,215 |
€1,405 |
€600 |
€6,220 |
|
GPC 12 – Forestry-for-Fibre |
€2,410 |
€805 |
€600 |
€3,815 |
|
GPC |
Annual Premium Rate <10ha |
Annual Premium Rate >10ha |
Premium Duration (years) |
|
GPC 1 – Unenclosed |
€185 |
€190 |
15 |
|
GPC 2 - Sitka spruce /Lodgepole pine |
€440 |
€450 |
15 |
|
GPC 3 – 15% Diverse Conifer e.g. Sitka spruce and 15% broadleaves |
€510 |
€520 |
15 |
|
GPC 4 – Diverse Conifer e.g., Scots pine, Douglas Fir |
€590 |
€600 |
15 |
|
GPC 5 – Broadleaf e.g. sycamore |
€605 |
€620 |
15 |
|
GPC 6 – Oak |
€645 |
€660 |
15 |
|
GPC 7 – Beech |
€645 |
€660 |
15 |
|
GPC 8 – Alder and Birch |
€605 |
€620 |
15 |
|
GPC 9- Native Woodland Establishment (oak-birch-holly-hazel) |
€665 |
€680 |
15 |
|
GPC 10- Native Woodland Establishment (alder-oak woodland) |
€665 |
€680 |
15 |
|
GPC 11 - Agro-forestry |
€645 |
€660 |
15 |
|
GPC 12 – Forestry-for-Fibre |
€510 |
€520 |
15 |
|
2015 |
Farmer |
Non-Farmer |
|
GPC1-8 |
1,122 |
173 |
|
Native Woodland |
14 |
6 |
|
Agro-Forestry |
0 |
0 |
|
Forestry for Fibre |
0 |
0 |
|
2016 |
Farmer |
Non-Farmer |
|
GPC1-8 |
801 |
462 |
|
Native Woodland |
31 |
10 |
|
Agro-Forestry |
0 |
1 |
|
Forestry for Fibre |
0 |
1 |
|
2017 |
Farmer |
Non-Farmer |
|
GPC1-8 |
662 |
416 |
|
Native Woodland |
37 |
27 |
|
Agro-Forestry |
1 |
0 |
|
Forestry for Fibre |
0 |
0 |
|
GPC |
1st Grant |
2nd Grant €/ha |
Additional fencing Allocation (IS436), 140m/ha |
Total Grant Available €/ha |
|
GPC 1 – Unenclosed |
€1,605 |
€535 |
€600 |
€2,740 |
|
GPC 2 - Sitka spruce / Lodgepole pine |
€2,330 |
€775 |
€600 |
€3,705 |
|
GPC 3 – 15% Diverse Conifer e.g. Sitka spruce and 15% broadleaves |
€2,410 |
€805 |
€600 |
€3,815 |
|
GPC 4 – Diverse Conifer e.g., Scots pine, Douglas Fir |
€2,785 |
€925 |
€600 |
€4,310 |
|
GPC 5 – Broadleaf e.g. sycamore |
€3,960 |
€1,320 |
€600 |
€5,880 |
|
GPC 6 – Oak |
€4,215 |
€1,405 |
€600 |
€6,220 |
|
GPC 7 – Beech |
€4,215 |
€1,405 |
€600 |
€6,220 |
|
GPC 8 – Alder and Birch |
€2,695 |
€900 |
€600 |
€4,195 |
|
GPC 9- Native Woodland Establishment (oak-birch-holly-hazel) |
€4,215 |
€1,405 |
€600 |
€6,220 |
|
GPC 10- Native Woodland Establishment (alder-oak woodland) |
€3,960 |
€1,320 |
€600 |
€5,880 |
|
GPC 11 - Agro-forestry |
€4,215 |
€1,405 |
€600 |
€6,220 |
|
GPC 12 – Forestry-for-Fibre |
€2,410 |
€805 |
€600 |
€3,815 |
|
GPC |
Annual Premium Rate <10ha |
Annual Premium Rate >10ha |
Premium Duration (years) |
|
GPC 1 – Unenclosed |
€185 |
€190 |
15 |
|
GPC 2 - Sitka spruce / Lodgepole pine |
€440 |
€450 |
15 |
|
GPC 3 – 15% Diverse Conifer e.g. Sitka spruce and 15% broadleaves |
€510 |
€520 |
15 |
|
GPC 4 – Diverse Conifer e.g., Scots pine, Douglas Fir |
€590 |
€600 |
15 |
|
GPC 5 – Broadleaf e.g. sycamore |
€605 |
€620 |
15 |
|
GPC 6 – Oak |
€645 |
€660 |
15 |
|
GPC 7 – Beech |
€645 |
€660 |
15 |
|
GPC 8 – Alder and Birch |
€605 |
€620 |
15 |
|
GPC 9- Native Woodland Establishment (oak-birch-holly-hazel) |
€665 |
€680 |
15 |
|
GPC 10- Native Woodland Establishment (alder-oak woodland) |
€665 |
€680 |
15 |
|
GPC 11 - Agro-forestry |
€645 |
€660 |
15 |
|
GPC 12 – Forestry-for-Fibre |
€510 |
€520 |
15 |
394. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated additional cost to the Exchequer based on 2017 participation and planting rates to implement a proposal (details supplied) over a full year. [20051/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current forestry programme does not differentiate between a “farmer” and “non-farmer” but targets funding at all landowners who wish to convert lands to forestry. It's important to note that the non-farmer category also includes recently retired farmers and the family members of existing farmers. I have no plans to change the current situation and will continue to pay the same premium under the current programme to all landowners to ensure that the maximum amount of land is available for afforestation.
In relation to the Deputy’s proposal to re-introduce the farmer premium differential and using his example to increase the premium for GPC3 from the premium rate of €510 in 2017 to €850/ha for farmers, the additional estimated expenditure for GPC3 would be approximately €843,200 per year.
395. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated additional cost to the Exchequer based on 2017 participation and planting rates on implementing a proposal (details supplied) over a full year. [20052/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMost productive marginal land is already eligible for planting and many farmers avail of the generous grants and premiums on offer to plant this land. There are some restrictions on planting land in designated areas and other environmentally sensitive areas. There is also a restriction on the proportion of unenclosed land, Grant Premium Category 1(GPC1) planted, capped at 20% in any one application.
My Department paid for planting of 48.80 hectares of land under GPC1 in 2017. Based on that level of planting, the Deputy's proposal to increase grants and premiums for this category would result in an increase in expenditure of approximately €60,000 per year.
