Written Answers Nos. 667-686
669. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is or has previously considered providing funding to local authorities for the installation of seabins following successful introductions in Howth Harbour; and the details of such an analysis. [7800/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902, and piers, lights and beacons constructed under the auspices of the Congested Districts Board.
The responsibility for the maintenance and development of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with the Local Authority in the first instance and its parent Department, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government thereafter.
My Department has facilitated the installation of sea bins at both Dingle and Howth Fishery Harbour Centres in recent years. Harbour management see the appropriate deployment of these devices as complementary to other on going operations to remove unwanted debris from the waters within the harbours.
As indicated, my legislative remit does not extend to Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways, and given that the ownership of, and overall responsibility for these piers, harbours and slipways rests with the Local Authority, it is for the Local Authority to decide if it wishes to carry out any developments, repair or maintenance.
My Department does however provide limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways within their ownership under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, subject to available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.
Under the 2020 Local Authority programme, I have approved funding of €3.1m to assist 10 coastal Local Authorities undertake and complete 58 development and repair projects on harbours and slipways owned by them. The package provides funding for maintenance and repair works in addition to supporting the ongoing development and enhancement of harbour facilities, including some marine leisure developments.
It is a matter for the relevant Local Authorities as to whether the installation of a sea bin would be of benefit and if it could operate effectively at harbours within their ownership. Should any application for funding be submitted by a Local Authority under any future programme in relation to the installation of a sea bin, it will be given due consideration, taking into account the terms and conditions of the scheme, the priority attached by the Council and available funds.
670. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications to the 2020 national reserve and young farmers scheme by county in tabular form. [7824/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of applications to the 2020 National Reserve and the 2020 Young Farmers Scheme, by county, is set out in the table below. In addition to the figures shown, there are further applications under these schemes which were submitted under temporary reference numbers where an application for a herd number has been made and is currently being processed. Therefore, the figures in the table are subject to change.
|
County |
Young Farmers Scheme |
National Reserve |
|
CARLOW |
85 |
6 |
|
CAVAN |
329 |
24 |
|
CLARE |
339 |
35 |
|
CORK |
869 |
73 |
|
DONEGAL |
314 |
32 |
|
DUBLIN |
33 |
6 |
|
GALWAY |
709 |
69 |
|
KERRY |
434 |
42 |
|
KILDARE |
99 |
12 |
|
KILKENNY |
266 |
18 |
|
LAOIS |
211 |
13 |
|
LEITRIM |
152 |
21 |
|
LIMERICK |
323 |
41 |
|
LONGFORD |
140 |
18 |
|
LOUTH |
61 |
12 |
|
MAYO |
674 |
65 |
|
MEATH |
219 |
21 |
|
MONAGHAN |
213 |
17 |
|
OFFALY |
224 |
19 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
280 |
19 |
|
SLIGO |
206 |
31 |
|
TIPPERARY |
470 |
62 |
|
WATERFORD |
177 |
15 |
|
WESTMEATH |
174 |
22 |
|
WEXFORD |
274 |
20 |
|
WICKLOW |
106 |
13 |
671. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount received by farmers and non-farmers for forestry payments in 2019 with respect to planting in each county under the forestry programme; and the percentage breakdown for planting in each county between the total amount received in payments by farmers and non-farmers in tabular form. [7825/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra672. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers and non-farmers participating in planting schemes under the forestry programme by county in tabular form. [7826/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 671 and 672 together.
The current Forestry Programme (2014-2020) offers an ambitious and attractive set of forestry measures aimed at increasing timber production and continuing to provide jobs in the forestry sector while, at the same time, improving the quality of the natural environment. The afforestation scheme offers a fixed grant towards the costs, subject to the maximum laid down in the scheme’s terms and conditions. In addition, annual premiums are payable to new forests which qualify for an afforestation grant for a maximum period of 15 years.
There is no distinction between the rate paid to farmers and non-farmers under the 2014-2020 Forestry Programme as the aim is to make the afforestation scheme accessible to all landowners. However, the table below shows that overwhelmingly, forestry premiums are paid to farmers.
The following table shows the number of farmer/non-farmers in each county, the amount of premiums received in 2019 and the percentage of premiums paid to farmers/non-farmers.
|
County |
Total No. Applicants |
Total Premiums Paid 2019 |
Number Farmers |
Amount Paid to Farmers |
% Paid to Farmers |
Number Non-Farmers |
Amount Paid to Non-Farmers |
% Paid to Non-Farmers |
|
Carlow |
109 |
€462,420.65 |
100 |
€424,482.69 |
91.80% |
9 |
€37,937.96 |
8.20% |
|
Cavan |
674 |
€2,587,346.17 |
577 |
€2,182,883.96 |
84.37% |
97 |
€404,462.21 |
15.63% |
|
Clare |
1,104 |
€5,155,605.94 |
971 |
€4,538,561.61 |
88.03% |
133 |
€617,044.33 |
11.97% |
|
Cork |
1,702 |
€8,147,546.96 |
1,527 |
€7,444,437.16 |
91.37% |
175 |
€703,109.80 |
8.63% |
|
Donegal |
309 |
€1,686,901.16 |
266 |
€1,570,002.76 |
93.07% |
43 |
€116,898.40 |
6.93% |
|
Dublin |
22 |
€62,220.94 |
16 |
€52,393.46 |
84.21% |
6 |
€9,827.48 |
15.79% |
|
Galway |
799 |
€3,355,786.31 |
703 |
€2,963,489.04 |
88.31% |
96 |
€392,297.27 |
11.69% |
|
Kerry |
1,175 |
€5,576,646.00 |
1,048 |
€5,113,555.15 |
91.70% |
127 |
€463,090.85 |
8.30% |
|
Kildare |
163 |
€767,895.67 |
143 |
€723,053.33 |
94.16% |
20 |
€44,842.34 |
5.84% |
|
Kilkenny |
487 |
€2,467,050.51 |
455 |
€2,360,613.25 |
95.69% |
32 |
€106,437.26 |
4.31% |
|
Laois |
275 |
€1,642,202.71 |
242 |
€1,546,284.89 |
94.16% |
33 |
€95,917.82 |
5.84% |
|
Leitrim |
477 |
€2,650,098.52 |
370 |
€2,085,926.02 |
78.71% |
107 |
€564,172.50 |
21.29% |
|
Limerick |
737 |
€3,868,610.10 |
656 |
€3,572,423.10 |
92.34% |
81 |
€296,187.00 |
7.66% |
|
Longford |
421 |
€1,798,419.73 |
357 |
€1,590,024.87 |
88.41% |
64 |
€208,394.86 |
11.59% |
|
Louth |
60 |
€347,082.94 |
48 |
€318,120.84 |
91.66% |
12 |
€28,962.10 |
8.34% |
|
Mayo |
904 |
€3,322,918.90 |
747 |
€2,872,390.00 |
86.44% |
157 |
€450,528.90 |
13.56% |
|
Meath |
278 |
€1,259,540.85 |
241 |
€1,149,720.87 |
91.28% |
37 |
€109,819.98 |
8.72% |
|
Monaghan |
187 |
€675,653.03 |
154 |
€576,345.66 |
85.30% |
33 |
€99,307.37 |
14.70% |
|
Offaly |
416 |
€2,236,265.29 |
381 |
€2,128,903.77 |
95.20% |
35 |
€107,361.52 |
4.80% |
|
Roscommon |
723 |
€3,064,230.32 |
603 |
€2,630,413.16 |
85.84% |
120 |
€433,817.16 |
14.16% |
|
Sligo |
465 |
€1,798,238.73 |
390 |
€1,593,277.03 |
88.60% |
75 |
€204,961.70 |
11.40% |
|
Tipperary |
858 |
€4,638,004.82 |
774 |
€4,387,233.83 |
94.59% |
84 |
€250,770.99 |
5.41% |
|
Waterford |
373 |
€1,718,434.57 |
338 |
€1,644,945.99 |
95.72% |
35 |
€73,488.58 |
4.28% |
|
Westmeath |
374 |
€2,054,911.13 |
316 |
€1,861,923.57 |
90.61% |
58 |
€192,987.56 |
9.39% |
|
Wexford |
393 |
€1,726,047.83 |
352 |
€1,656,437.78 |
95.97% |
41 |
€69,610.05 |
4.03% |
|
Wicklow |
242 |
€1,276,018.30 |
197 |
€1,109,474.57 |
86.95% |
45 |
€166,543.73 |
13.05% |
|
Totals |
13,727 |
€64,346,098.08 |
11,972 |
€58,097,318.36 |
90.29% |
1,755 |
€6,248,779.72 |
9.71% |
673. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of agricultural land in each county that has been planted with forestry to date in tabular form. [7827/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe area of land afforested in each county is set out in the following table, which is taken from the third National Forest Inventory (NFI) published in 2019 and is the most up-to-date dataset currently available. The area of forest in Ireland is estimated to be 770,020 ha or 11% of the total land area of Ireland (NFI 2017).
|
County |
% Area |
|
Carlow |
9.4 |
|
Cavan |
9.3 |
|
Clare |
17.2 |
|
Cork |
12.1 |
|
Donegal |
11.4 |
|
Dublin |
6.5 |
|
Galway |
9.9 |
|
Kerry |
12.1 |
|
Kildare |
6.1 |
|
Kilkenny |
9.6 |
|
Laois |
15.4 |
|
Leitrim |
18.9 |
|
Limerick |
10.4 |
|
Longford |
8.4 |
|
Louth |
2.9 |
|
Mayo |
9.2 |
|
Meath |
5.7 |
|
Monaghan |
4.6 |
|
Offaly |
14.7 |
|
Roscommon |
11.1 |
|
Sligo |
11.4 |
|
Tipperary |
11.8 |
|
Waterford |
14.7 |
|
Westmeath |
8.2 |
|
Wexford |
6.2 |
|
Wicklow |
17.9 |
674. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the final allocation made to each specific forestry scheme in his Department for 2020. [7828/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total allocation for the Forestry Programme for 2020 is €103.5m. The funding for the Forestry Programme of my Department, reflects the target of 8,000ha of new afforestation, outlined in the Government’s Climate Action Plan, 2019.
The capital allocation is estimated at €100.1m This provides for new afforestation (€26.5m), existing annual premiums for current Afforestation Scheme participants (€62.25m) and Forestry Support and ancillary schemes (€11.35m).
The support schemes include the Forest Road Works Scheme along with other forestry schemes such as Woodland Improvement, Native Woodland Conservation and NeighbourWood. The capital allocation also provides for the National Forest Inventory, which is commencing a new cycle in 2020.
The current allocation of just over €3.4m provides for other support schemes including the very successful Forestry Knowledge Transfer Group Scheme, which is now reopening for 2020. I have also provided funding for training and promotional strategies in 2020.
675. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of broadleaf forestry planting as a percentage of total planting in 2018 and 2019, in tabular form. [7829/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraInterest in planting native woodlands has been increasing, since I introduced a series of new measures following the Forestry Programme (2014-2020) Mid-term Review in 2018. My Department pays generous grants and premiums as part of the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme, particularly for broadleaf categories.
In 2018, payments issued in relation to the new planting of 374 hectares of native woodlands, an increase of 38% compared to 2017, while in 2019, the figure for new planting of native woodlands was 310 hectares. The percentage of broadleaf planting as a percentage of total planting has also increased considerably since the new measures targeting broadleaf afforestation through increased grant and premium rates for relevant planting categories were introduced in 2018. In 2017, 21% of trees planted were broadleaf trees. This percentage increased to 27% in 2018, remained stable at 25% in 2019 and has increased to 36%, during the months up to April in 2020.
The following table shows the total percentage of broadleaf planted in 2018 and 2019.
|
Total planting in ha |
2018 |
2019 |
|
Conifer |
2,932.13 |
2,656.73 |
|
Broadleaves |
1,066.35 |
893.16 |
|
Total (ha) |
3,998.48 |
3,549.89 |
|
% Broadleaves (of total) |
26.67% |
25.16% |
676. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual planting targets per hectare for all categories in each grant and premium category for 2018 and 2019 of the Forestry Programme 2014-2020; the actual number of hectares planted in each such year for these categories; and the number of hectares planted out of each annual target set on a percentage basis in tabular form. [7830/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile overall targets are set for planting programme as a whole, only Native Woodland, Agroforestry, and Forestry for fibre have specific planting targets and there are no specific targets for the other Grant and Premium Categories (GPC) 1 to 8 inclusive. The relevant data is provided in tabular form as requested.
|
Scheme |
2018 Target |
2018 Actual |
% of target planted |
2019 Target |
2019 Actual |
% of target planted |
|
Afforestation, ha |
7,205 |
4,025 |
56% |
8,115 |
3,549 |
44% |
|
of which afforestation (GPC1- 8) |
6,215 |
3,649 |
59% |
6,615 |
3,228 |
49% |
|
of which NWS establishment (GPC9 & 10) |
450 |
374 |
83% |
450 |
310 |
69% |
|
of which Agro-forestry (GPC11) |
40 |
1 |
2% |
50 |
6.78 |
14% |
|
0f which energy and fibre (GPC12) |
500 |
1 |
0% |
1,000 |
4.01 |
0.40% |
677. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the European Commission proposals (COM(2018) 392 final) for the next CAP and reference to GAEC II in Annex III (preservation of carbon rich soils such as peatlands and wetlands) will be implemented at primary producer level; and the discretion member states will have to identify the peatland and wetland areas in question. [7831/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new legislative proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy 2021 - 2027 were launched in June 2018 by Commissioner Hogan. The proposals outline a greater environmental ambition post-2020 and recognise the role the agriculture sector has to play in helping Member States achieve their environmental and climate change targets.
Negotiations on the CAP proposals are ongoing and, while significant progress has been made, decisions on many key issues have still to be finalised. These include the proposed new green architecture, which is aimed at achieving a higher level of climate ambition.
The CAP Strategic Plan Regulation introduces GAEC ll in Annex lll with a view to protecting wetland and peatland ecosystems. This text is still subject to change as negotiations are ongoing. Ireland has requested clarification on the meaning of “protection” from the Commission and this will inform implementation of measures at farm level.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to actively participate in the negotiation process and work with my European counterparts to secure the best possible outcome for the Irish agri-food sector.
678. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of meat processing factories in which Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in staff employed; and the number of employees in such factories that have tested positive by county in tabular form. [7832/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information with regard to the numbers of workers tested or positive in meat plants is a matter for the personnel involved, the Food Businesses and the Health Service Executive.
A national Outbreak Control team has been established by the HSE to deal with all issues relating to Covid 19 in meat plants. My Department is represented on this committee and it is expected that recommendations, including any in relation to testing, will issue from this group in due course.
Any clusters of cases in individual meat plants, in common with clusters in other workplaces, are dealt with by local HSE-led outbreak control teams.
679. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the new measures which will be introduced to reduce the transmission of Covid-19 in meat factories; if the relevant authorities discussed with processors the deep cleaning of plants in which high transmission cases have been identified; if it is envisaged to introduce a testing regime which isolates suspected cases at plants and the provision of an adequate place to self-isolate if the option to do so is not available in the household of the person; and the agreed next steps to reduce transmission rates at these plants while maintaining the food supply chain. [7833/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to address issues in meat plants, Food Business Operators have put in place a range of protective practices and equipment to protect employee safety and these include measures such as the reduction of throughput rates at the plant, temperature checks on entry into the plant, the extension of operating hours and other safeguards such as “podding”, the provision of additional PPE, the use of perspex screens and the provision of additional facilities to support physical distancing measures.
A National Outbreak Control Team has been established by the HSE to deal with all issues relating to Covid 19 in meat plants and my Department is represented on this committee. All matters in relation to transmission of Covid 19, together with the appropriate isolation and sanitising measures will be addressed by the team.
680. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure farmers will have sufficient time to submit applications under TAMS for slatted shed buildings before the upcoming deadline in view of the fact that planning applications from some local authorities have been suspended during the Covid-19 crisis period. [7835/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of this issue and have introduced flexibilities for the applicants concerned. Due to delays being experienced in securing full planning permission or a letter of exemption from local authorities, the following temporary measure will be in place for the current Tranche of TAMSII.
Applicants/Agents who are experiencing delays may make an application under the current Tranche 17 which closes 5 June 2020 and these applications will be accepted as long as full planning permission or letter of exemption is submitted online by 10 July 2020. After this date, incomplete applications will be rejected and those applicants may apply under a future tranche.
Further details of how to upload the claim without the planning permission or the letter of exemption can be found on the Departments website as follows: www.agriculture.gov.ie/customerservice/coronaviruscovid-19/tams/.
681. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is considering the proposal from an organisation (details supplied) to support agrifood companies that export product to markets, a tool that other EU member states have deployed; if he or his officials discussed the issue with the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and her officials; and if so, the agreed next steps. [7836/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, policy in relation to export credit insurance is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister of Business Enterprise and Innovation.
Officials in my Department are actively engaging with agri-food sector stakeholders to discuss various challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, including those related to exports. They also participate in cross-Departmental mechanisms to ensure that appropriate and effective supports are available to all businesses.
With regard to the challenges currently faced by agri food businesses, I have engaged with the banks on the specific liquidity and financing needs of farmers, fishers and agri-food businesses and have stressed the need for the banks to support and work with their customers through this challenging period. All the banks have announced that they will offer flexibility to their customers, and that they may be able to provide payment breaks or emergency working capital facilities. The advice is that farmers, fishers and agri-food businesses should engage with their bank at an early stage to discuss emerging cashflow issues. I welcomed the recent announcement by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland that their members, including the five main retail banks, have extended their payment break from three months to six months for those directly impacted by Covid-19.
In terms of supports, agri-food businesses are eligible for the wide range of supports put in place for businesses generally. This includes the National COVID-19 Income Support Scheme, encompassing both the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme and the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
The €250 million SBCI COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme, co-financed by my Department, has also been deployed to address liquidity and financing needs of eligible businesses arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
For smaller businesses of less than 10 employees, Microfinance Ireland are also offering a COVID-19 Business Loan, providing working capital loans up to €50,000.
The Future Growth Loan Scheme (FGLS), also co-financed by my Department, was launched last year and made €300m of investment loans available to eligible Irish businesses. Loans are competitively priced, for terms of 8-10 years, and support strategic long-term investment. As a result of the significant and sudden financial impact of the pandemic on businesses a second tranche, with up to 40% available to the agri-food sector, will be made available through the banks, with details to be announced shortly.
In addition, the Government have announced agreement of a further suite of measures to further support business that are negatively impacted by Covid-19. Work has commenced on a €2 billion COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme to support lending to SMEs, including agri-businesses, farmers and fishers, for terms ranging from 3 months to 6 years, which will be below market interest rates. Other measures include a €10,000 restart grant for micro and small businesses based on a rates waiver/rebate from 2019; a three-month commercial rates waiver for impacted businesses; and the ‘warehousing’ of tax liabilities for a period of twelve months after recommencement of trading, during which time there will be no debt enforcement action taken by Revenue and no interest charge accruing in respect of the warehoused debt.
I will continue to work with stakeholders across the sector in relation to the impact of this crisis and the Government will continue to keep the needs of the whole agri-food sector under review as the situation evolves.
682. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) with regard to maintaining the current system by which farmers source veterinary products. [7838/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU Regulation 2019/6 on veterinary medicinal products comes into effect in January 2022. This Regulation is binding in full and has direct effect on all Member States. There is limited national discretion available to Member States in relation to a number of the Regulations articles.
In 2004, European legislation established a requirement that all veterinary medicinal products that are intended for use in food-producing animals should be subject to a veterinary prescription. However, a 2006 EU Directive allowed for the maintenance of non-prescription status for certain veterinary medicinal products which did not present a risk to human or animal health or to the environment, and which met the specified criteria for exemption from veterinary prescription. Ireland availed of the exemption in Directive 2006/130/EC at the time and antiparasitics were allowed to continue to be available without prescription.
There is a similar exemption available under the new EU Regulation 2019/6. However, since that time, our knowledge regarding the impact of extensive use of antiparasitics has changed. For example, antiparasitic resistance has been widely reported in parasites of livestock species in Ireland and globally, resistance is developing year-on-year and is now a significant animal health issue.
In 2019, the Health Product Regulatory Authority’s (HPRA) Advisory Committee for Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) established a Task Force to review the method of supply of antiparasitic veterinary medicinal products that are intended for food-producing animals against the criteria set out in Regulation 2019/6. A copy of the Report is available on the HPRA’s website www.hpra.ie.
The Report states that the available scientific evidence shows that antiparasitic veterinary medicines that are intended for use in food-producing species do not comply with the criteria for derogation from veterinary prescription specified in EU Regulation 2019/6. It also states that a consequence of this determination is that any such products that are supplied without veterinary prescription will need to be upregulated to supply under veterinary prescription. Therefore, Ireland and all other Member States must now comply with this regulation from January 2022.
In accordance with existing national legislation, antiparasitic veterinary medicinal products for use in food-producing species that are supplied under prescription may be dispensed by veterinary practitioners, pharmacists and licensed merchants. This means that all current stakeholders that are already permitted to supply such products will be entitled to continue to stock them in the future but from January 2022 onwards, a veterinary prescription will be needed to dispense them.
My Department is committed to working with all stakeholders in considering how best to implement the new EU Regulations on veterinary medicinal products and plan to have a public consultation in Q2 2020. A dedicated email address has been set up for this purpose and I would encourage all interested parties to send their observations to vetmedregs@agriculture.gov.ie.
683. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farm lands with designations such as special area of conservation, special protected area, natural heritage area will be eligible for the basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7911/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU Regulations governing the Basic Payment Scheme require that for agricultural land to be deemed eligible for payment, it must be subject to an agricultural activity. Ineligible features, e.g. scrub, rock, etc., are not eligible and must be deducted from the area being declared for payment. Furthermore, land that is abandoned, i.e. no agriculture activity taking place, is not considered as eligible land. Lands designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Protected Areas (SPA) or Natural Heritage Areas can be considered as eligible land for payment purposes subject to the land meeting these conditions.
There is further provision under Article 32 of Regulation 1307/2013, which provides that where lands designated as SAC or SPA develop ineligible features as a result of the requirements of such designation, the land may be considered eligible for payment, subject to additional conditions, i.e. the land must have been claimed and deemed eligible for payment under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme and any increase in the area of ineligible features must be directly linked to the management requirements of such designation. SAC or SPA land that is abandoned cannot be considered as eligible for payment under this provision. Also, rock which is a hard feature can never be eligible for payment in these parcels.
684. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of meat plants that have recorded instances of Covid-19; the location of each plant affected; the number of instances per centre; the measures enacted by his Department to minimise the instances and to protect the workers at these and other plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7912/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information with regard to the numbers of workers tested or positive in meat plants is a matter for the personnel involved, the Food Businesses and the Health Service Executive.
A national Outbreak Control team has been established by the HSE to deal with all issues relating to Covid 19 in meat plants. My Department is represented on this committee and it is expected that recommendations, including any in relation to testing, will issue from this group in due course. Any clusters of cases in individual meat plants, in common with clusters in other workplaces, are dealt with by local HSE-led outbreak control teams.
Food Business Operators have put in place a range of protective practices and equipment to protect employee safety and these measures may vary slightly from plant to plant, but may include the reduction of throughput rates at the plant, temperature checks on entry into the plant, the extension of operating hours and other safeguards such as “podding”, the provision of additional PPE, the use of perspex screens and the provision of additional facilities to support physical distancing measures.
685. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has concerns that there may be a fodder shortage in 2020; the contingency measures he will put in place for the event; if he will prepare a financial support package in advance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7913/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver the last decade, Ireland has experienced a number of extreme weather events ranging from the significant cold winter of 2009/2010 through to the extended dry period experienced in the Summer of 2018 which followed a prolonged winter that resulted in a late spring.
2019 proved to be a very good year for grass growth resulting in significant reserves of fodder being available into 2020. In addition, so far this year, based on Teagasc's PastureBase Ireland grass growth monitoring model, growing conditions have been favourable. As a result of the growing conditions and the good weather, farmers have conserved excellent quality fodder in recent weeks and based on current fodder availability, it is premature to consider a fodder shortfall at this time.
Nevertheless, both I and my officials continue to closely monitor the situation.
686. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of reported tuberculosis cases in each year since 2010; the amount spent on eradication programmes in each year in tabular form; the portion of this funding which came from the EU annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7915/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table shows the number of reactors and the number of new herd restrictions per year since 2010. Also shown is the amount of actual voted expenditure incurred by my Department over the same period of time, this expenditure does not include staff costs which are estimated annually at circa €25m. These figures do not include farmer contribution towards the cost of the scheme which is estimated at circa €32m annually.
|
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
2015 |
2014 |
2013 |
2012 |
2011 |
2010 |
|
|
Herd Incidence |
3.72% |
3.51% |
3.47% |
3.27% |
3.37% |
3.64% |
3.88% |
4.26% |
4.18% |
4.65% |
|
Number of Reactors |
17,058 |
17,491 |
17,266 |
16,914 |
15,317 |
16,145 |
15,612 |
18,476 |
18,531 |
20,211 |
|
Actual Voted Expenditure ('000) |
€37,544 |
€36,658 |
€32,570 |
€30,776 |
€30,251 |
€35,556 |
€31,739 |
€38,886 |
€39,799 |
€40,465 |
|
EU Contribution ('000) |
€8,250 due August 2020 |
€8,789 |
€9,851 |
€10,445 |
€10,651 |
€12,700 |
€10,221 |
€11,085 |
€15,409 |
€12,043 |
|
EU Contribution as a % of voted expenditure |
21.97 |
23.98 |
30.25 |
33.94 |
35.21 |
35.72 |
32.20 |
28.51 |
38.72 |
29.76 |
