Tuesday, 10 Jul 2018

Written Answers Nos. 717-733

Farm Data

Ceisteanna (717, 718, 719, 720, 721, 722, 723, 724)

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

717. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dairy farmers in County Cork in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30466/18]

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

718. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dairy farmers in County Cork in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30467/18]

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

719. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dairy farmers in County Kerry in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30468/18]

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

720. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dairy farmers in County Kerry in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30469/18]

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

721. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dairy farmers in County Clare in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30470/18]

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

722. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dairy farmers in County Clare in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30471/18]

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

723. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dairy farmers in County Limerick in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30472/18]

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

724. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dairy farmers in County Limerick in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30473/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 717 to 724, inclusive, together.

The following table provides the number of dairy herds in each of the counties of Clare, Cork, Limerick and Kerry for the year 2018, as provided by my Department's Animal Health Computer System. Similar data is not available for 2008.

	Clare	Cork	Limerick	Kerry
2018	596	4226	1590	1477

Further information on farm structures is available from the Central Statistics Office, particularly the CSO Farm Structures Survey 2016, which was published earlier this year, and is available at the following link.

GLAS Data

Ceisteanna (725)

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

725. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers participating in the GLAS scheme in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30474/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

There are currently 49,266 participants in the GLAS scheme. This figure can change as the scheme develops reflecting the fact that participants can withdraw from the scheme, are rejected from the scheme due to non-compliance or participants are re-instated into the scheme as a result of the appeals process.

Animal Welfare

Ceisteanna (726)

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

726. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who have applied for help with animal welfare to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30475/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department assisted 4 farmers in the purchase of fodder, and a further 4 were assisted with a transport subsidy under  Animal Welfare Emergency arrangements. 

In addition it should be recalled The Early Warning Intervention System (EWS) for animal welfare under the auspices of the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council (FAWAC) continues to provide a beneficial service to the farming community. The EWS is made up of Veterinarians, Farming and Welfare Bodies and Department representatives. The core objective of the system is to provide a framework within which animal welfare problems can be identified and dealt with before they become critical.

Agriculture Scheme Appeals

Ceisteanna (727)

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

727. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of penalties that have been overturned or reduced on appeal in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30476/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The breakdown of the outcome of appeals that were dealt with by the Agriculture Appeals Office in the years 2015 to 2017 and in 2018 up to 5 July 2018 is included in the Table provided The Agriculture Appeals Office has advised that, in specific regard to the outcome of appeals that can result in a penalty being overturned or reduced, such outcomes include appeals that are allowed by an Appeals Officer, appeals that are partially allowed by an Appeals Officer, and appeals for which the penalty included in my Department's decision, which is the subject of appeal, is overturned or reduced following intervention by the Appeals Office before an appeal decision is finalised.

In regard to Appeals Officer decisions that were changed by the Director of Agriculture Appeals to allow or partially allow appeals and which are not included in the Table provided, the position is that in 2015, 3 appeal decisions were revised to partially allow the appeals, 1 appeal decision was changed in 2016 to fully allow the appeal, 2 decisions were changed in 2017 to fully allow the appeals and in 2018 to date, 4 decisions were changed to fully allow the appeal. Following receipt of an appeal decision, my Department ordinarily overturns the penalty when appeals are fully allowed and determines what penalty reduction may be required in the case of partially allowed appeals.

Outcome of Appeals closed by the Agriculture Appeals Office

Year	Total cases closed (all years)	Allowed, Partially Allowed, Revised by DAFM following intervention by Appeals Office	% of  total closed cases allowed, partially allowed, revised by DAFMfollowing intervention by Appeals Office	% of cases Disallowed	% of cases Withdrawn, Not Valid or Out of Time
2015	672	278	41%	44.5% (298)	14.5% (96)
2016	615	253	41%	45% (274)	14% (88)
2017	707	261	37%	52% (369)	11% (77)
2018 to 5 July 2018	252	101	40.1%	49.6% (125)	10.3% (26)

GLAS Data

Ceisteanna (728)

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

728. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the area of land in hectares designated as traditional hay meadow under the GLAS scheme in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30477/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The area of land under the GLAS Traditional Hay Meadow action stood at 61,600 hectares in April 2018. Payment per hectare for this action is €315. The number of participants in GLAS can vary as farmers withdraw or are rejected from the scheme with consequent impacts on planted areas.

GLAS Data

Ceisteanna (729)

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

729. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the area of land in hectares designated as low impact pasture under the GLAS scheme in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30478/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The area of land under the GLAS Low Input Permanent Pasture action stood at 262,500 hectares in April 2018. Payment per hectare for this action is €314. The number of participants in GLAS can vary as farmers withdraw or are rejected from the scheme with consequent impacts on planted areas.

Electronic Tagging

Ceisteanna (730)

Tom Neville

Ceist:

730. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the mandatory introduction of electronic identification, EID, tagging of sheep; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30479/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I made the announcement on 2 May 2108 on the extension of electronic identification to all sheep.

The rationale for the introduction of new rules on sheep identification is very solid as it clearly allows for a more robust sheep traceability system that will further support the development and sustainability of the sheep industry. It will ultimately simplify the sheep tagging system and will significantly reduce the record keeping requirements for farmers and producers alike. The extension of EID to all sheep has the capacity to allow for greater market access to third countries, including the USA, as well as considering the potential of sheepmeat access to Japan and other markets. 

The current national sheep identification system (NSIS) was introduced in 2010 in an effort to address specific concerns across different sectors. It is widely acknowledged as being very complex, with an over-reliance on the transcription of individual numbers through all stages of production. The system is not functioning optimally and must be improved.

Acknowledging that the new sheep identification rules will impose an additional cost on farmers, I have announced a tag subsidy scheme, whereby keepers will be eligible for a payment of up to €50 on the first electronic tag order processed after a date to be specified. In addition, while not required for the implementation of the new rules, I have included sheep tag readers and associated software as eligible investments under the TAMS Scheme. This will greatly assist keepers in their on-going flock management and improvement. TAMS is a scheme that farmers are familiar with and which also offers other sheep-related investment opportunities.

In operational terms, when the new system comes into force, marts and factories will operate as Central Points of Recording (CPRs), approved by my Department. As provided for under Council Regulation 21/2004, CPRs will provide the presenting keeper with a printed list of tag numbers scanned in association with a particular batch of sheep presented at a mart or factory, thereby removing the requirement for the keeper to separately list the individual tag number of each animal in that batch. The printed list will then be associated with the related dispatch document for the keeper's records. In the case of mart movements, the CPR will provide a similar printout to the purchasing keeper, for association with his/her records.

Only movements to premises that are not operating as approved CPRs (e.g. farm-to-farm, farm-show etc.) will require the listing of full animal identification numbers on the associated dispatch document.

The operation of marts and factories as CPRs means that no farmer will be required to purchase tag reading equipment, although this is an option for those who wish to record and monitor animal data with a view to improving flock management and optimising yield.

I have led a number of trade missions in the last number of years, where every effort is being made by organisations throughout the country to secure additional markets for Irish sheep meat. Increasingly, these new markets require the electronic identification of sheep as a pre-requisite to discussions. While it is the case that New Zealand has access to Asian markets in the absence of electronic identification, as alluded to in the supplied detail, these are historic markets, where access was granted many years ago when technology had not advanced to the standards of today. New, higher standards are now required for entry into these markets and Ireland has no choice but to reach the standards set out if we are to expand our market base into these countries.   

Since the announcement of the introduction of EID in sheep, either myself or my officials have met with the stakeholders in the sheep industry and engaged in consultation on the implementation of EID. 

A number of submissions have also been made on the matter of implementation of EID and I will consider the views of all stakeholders and expect to respond soon on the matter.

Ministerial Travel

Ceisteanna (731)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

731. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of travel expenses for him and those who travel with him since his appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30503/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The relevant information can be accessed on my Department’s website at https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/aboutus/ministers/.

Veterinary Qualifications

Ceisteanna (732)

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

732. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a regulatory vacuum has been allowed to exist in the context of the decision by the Veterinary Council of Ireland, made in January 2018, to deregulate on a unilateral basis the ownership of veterinary practices here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30522/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The regulation of the practice of veterinary medicine in accordance with the Veterinary Practice Act 2005 is a matter for the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI).

My Department has communicated with the VCI in relation to the ownership of veterinary practices. The VCI have indicated that they intend to clarify the position following consultation with stakeholders.

Project Ireland 2040

Ceisteanna (733)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

733. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of times he has met his officials regarding Project Ireland 2040 since its launch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30544/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I meet with my officials on a regular basis on important issues such as Project Ireland 2040. This includes in the run-up to the launch of the National Development Plan and National Planning Framework on 16 February 2018 and the subsequent preparations for the Cabinet discussion and adoption of the four Project Ireland 2040 funds on 29 May 2018. On this latter occasion, I discussed details of the Funds as they relate to the work of my Department. My most recent engagement with Department officials on this issue was on 20 June to discuss preparations for this Friday's event in Westport to mark Project Ireland 2040's contribution to the development of rural Ireland which I am co-hosting with Minister Ring.

Under Project Ireland 2040, the Government is committed to a  €116 billion plan to invest in our public infrastructure, take the entire country forward, balance rural and urban investment, and prepare us for future economic challenges and opportunities. I fully support the plan which will bring a renewed focus to the strengthening of rural communities and rural economies.