Written Answers Nos. 600-624
600. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if approval and financial support will be provided for a forestry road in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13319/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for the Forest Road Works Scheme was received on behalf of the person named in April, 2020.
All applications for forestry licences, must be carefully assessed for their potential impacts on the surrounding environment and countryside. As part of this assessment process, applications may be referred to public bodies, including the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and others. The application was referred to the NPWS on 19 May and they have until the middle of July to respond.
Following that, the application will be referred to the Forestry District Inspector, who will examine the application for its potential impacts on its own or in combination with other plans and projects in the area. The proposed site is near to nine designated sites and it is not possible at this time, to rule out any impact the proposed operations may have on those sites.
When the assessment of the application is complete, the person named and their registered forester will be notified of the decision.
601. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding allocated for grants under the fisheries local area group development 2016-2023 for 2020; the actual amount of funding allocation that has been issued to date; and the remaining amount for 2020. [13387/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur seven Fisheries Local Action Groups have been allocated a total of €12 million to disperse to their FLAG territories over the course of the EMFF Programme. The seven FLAGs were established in 2017 and by end 2019 had paid out some €6.6 million in grants. BIM anticipates that beneficiaries will draw down further funds in 2020 from existing outstanding grant awards, while I expect to announce the first grant awards of 2020 in the coming weeks. Figures are not yet available in respect of those new grant awards. The FLAG scheme will continue to operate in 2021 until its full €12 million allocation is exhausted.
My Department is at present in the process of developing the next Programme for the 2021 to 2027 period under the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, which is still being negotiated by the EU Co-legislators. I anticipate that FLAGs will again have an important role in that next Programme.
602. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the work undertaken to commence a pilot scheme in 2020 modelled on the rural environment protection scheme; the estimated number of farmers that will participate in such a pilot scheme; the estimated funding to be allocated to the pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13431/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs consideration of the next CAP is ongoing, Ireland has pressed for the earliest possible adoption of regulations to facilitate the operation of schemes during the transitional period. This is to provide some certainty until such time as CAP regulations and associated funding arrangements are agreed. Ireland has pressed for early agreement on these issues so that my Department can plan for the transitional period with legal and financial certainty and consequently provide clarity to farmers and rural communities as soon as possible.
In parallel, my Department will begin to work now on measures to meet its commitments under a new Programme for Government, including those in relation to a new environmental scheme. This will be priority work for me and my Department over the coming months and the stakeholders will continue to be updated on developments.
603. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers that will be eligible for the emergency beef fund scheme by county in tabular form; the criteria that will be applied to applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13432/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe €50 million Beef Exceptional Aid package is targeted towards beef finishers in recognition of the fact that they have borne the most immediate and severe economic impact arising from the market disturbance associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The details requested by the Deputy are not yet available as my Department, having consulted with farming stakeholders, is currently working out the detailed terms and conditions for the scheme, which will be published in due course.
604. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a scheme to support farmers that are affected by a shortage of straw in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13433/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhilst there is concern that the reduced level of winter crop sowings and the recent dry spell impacting on spring sown crops will result in lower volumes of straw this year, it is premature to be definitive in terms of straw demand versus availability,in particular given that harvest 2020 has not commenced. Notwithstanding this, 2019 produced an abundance of straw which carried over into this year and will help in offsetting some of the likely demand.
However, both I and my officials will continue to closely monitor the situation.
605. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason he decided to exclude suckler beef farmers from the €50 million emergency beef fund; if he will publish the advice and analysis that led to this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13434/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe €50 million Beef Exceptional Aid package is targeted towards beef finishers in recognition of the fact that they have borne the most immediate and severe economic impact arising from the market disturbance arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supporting finishers will have a positive impact on suckling and store buying enterprises, as it will help to maintain the market into which these operators sell, primarily in the autumn.
The economic rationale which underpins the scheme will be published in due course in the notification to the EU Commission for inclusion of the measure under the COVID temporary state aid framework.
In terms of supports specifically for suckler farmers; in addition to the €300 million Beef Data and Genomics Programme, which is the core Rural Development Programme support targeted at suckler farmers, and other supports such as the Areas of Natural Constraint scheme which is very significant to suckler farm incomes, the 2020 Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme - Sucklers (BEEP-S) is targeted specifically at suckler farmers and aims to enhance the operational, economic and environmental efficiency of suckler enterprises.
606. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of his interactions with the European Commission regarding the ongoing free trade deal negotiations with New Zealand, particularly in relation to the tariff free sheep meat quotas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13435/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 21 June 2018, Trade Commissioner Malmstrom and Trade Minister Parker officially launched negotiations for a comprehensive and ambitious trade agreement between the EU and New Zealand. Eight rounds of negotiations have been completed, the most recent of which took place from 8-19 June 2020.
During the course of these negotiations, Ireland has, as with all such negotiations, insisted that they are handled appropriately and in a manner that safeguards the interests of our agri-food sector, particularly our most sensitive sectors.
Prior to the most recent round of negotiations, the European Commission circulated a "draft second market access offer" for Member States' consideration. This offer included more sensitive lines, such as beef, dairy and sheepmeat, which were absent from the EU's initial market access offer. Ireland and other Member States expressed concerns to the Commission in relation to the sheepmeat offer in particular through the Trade Policy Committee in early June, which was attended (virtually) by officials from both my Department and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. In response, the Commission revised the proposed offer significantly downwards.
My Department will continue to monitor these and other negotiations closely, with a view to continuing to protect the interests of the Irish agri-food sector.
607. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of lambs that were imported for processing in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13436/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIntra EU movement of animals is recorded on the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). The following data extracted from the TRACES database represents sheep of all ages imported into Ireland for all movement purposes. 2020 data is available for Quarter 1 only.
|
Year |
Quantity (Head) |
|
2020 (YTD 01/04/20) |
108,853 |
|
2019 |
461,522 |
|
2018 |
521,798 |
|
2017 |
492,776 |
|
2016 |
432,354 |
|
2015 |
331,795 |
608. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff employed and the grade of each at Davitt House, Castlebar, County Mayo; his plans to expand the offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13465/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Deputy, the table below lists the grade and number of staff employed at Davitt House, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. There are no plans to either increase or decrease the number of staff in this office.
|
Grade |
Number of Staff |
|
Assistant Agricultural Inspector |
5 |
|
Clerical Officer |
14 |
|
District Superintendent |
4 |
|
Executive Officer |
3 |
|
Forestry Inspector |
1 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
2 |
|
Superintending Veterinary Inspector |
1 |
|
Supervisory Agricultural Officer |
6 |
|
Technical Agricultural Officer |
16 |
|
Veterinary Inspector |
4 |
|
Grand Total |
56 |
609. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on running a promotional campaign to urge consumers and restaurants to purchase seafood from Irish fishermen and women to help offset the economic impact of Covid-19. [13507/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe promotion of Irish seafood on the domestic and international markets is a statutory function of Bord Bia – the State Body of my Department charged with such matters. Decisions on individual promotion and marketing campaigns of Irish food, drink, horticulture and seafood are an operational matter for that organisation and as such the Deputy can contact them at info@BordBia.ie
I wish to advise the Deputy that Bord Bia as a publicly funded State Body is prohibited by EU state aid rules from advertising and promotion solely on the grounds of national origin. This is on the basis that such advertising in any Member State could create unfair competition and a barrier to the free movements of trade, goods and services within the Single Market.
However, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that Bord Bia are currently completing a series of Ireland Market Promotions, which have been ongoing since late March. These activities are spanning TV, radio and social media, and encourages consumers to use a range of quality assured food products, including Irish whitefish, to create healthy and comforting meals at home, during this time. This current promotional and advertising campaign for the seafood and meat sectors on our national media are category based, and are situated within the legal permissions of the Bord Bia Sustainable Quality Assurance Logo, where the national origin is very much in a secondary capacity.
This campaign is just one of the responses designed by Bord Bia as part of the whole of Government response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
610. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on increasing the provision of farm safety education through practical skills training and continuous professional development. [13509/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith 14 fatal farm incidents to date this year, farm safety is a key priority and one of critical importance for the agriculture sector. It should be remembered that it is the Health and Safety Authority that has responsibility for safety across all workplaces including on farms.
My Department works closely with the HSA in the promotion of farm safety and farm safety training. To this end all applicants under the structural investment scheme or 'TAMS', are required to complete a farm safety training course before they can be paid any funding. Additionally, all participants in the Knowledge Transfer schemes were required to attend farm safety meetings and complete annual farm safety plans. Beyond this, over the last three years both the Agricultural Science Leaving Certificate Syllabus and the third level 'Green Cert' have been updated in respect to the training of young people in farm safety.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to ' Invest in enhanced farm safety and well- being measures under the next CAP'. This confirms our commitment to prioritising farm safety as a critical issue of importance to the sector in the period ahead.
611. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of fishermen and women that have availed of the Covid-19 tie-up payment by each category of the scheme and in absolute and relative terms to the estimate total eligible number of boats. [13510/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with Government policy to maintain food supply chains throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic, from the outset Government classified fishermen as essential workers and kept our fishery harbours open. However, our fishermen have faced difficult market conditions over recent months with market access very difficult and prices for many species depressed. We are now in a transition period where, with the re-opening of economies and societies in Europe and elsewhere worldwide, market conditions and prices are improving. However, we still have a volatile market situation and to assist with stabilising the market for our fishermen during this transition period the Voluntary Fleet Tie-up Scheme is available, so that those vessel owners who consider that it is not economically viable for them to fish can voluntarily tie-up in port for a one or two month period over the three months June to August. The Tie-up Scheme is intended as an additional safety net to complement the income supports available from Government for fishermen in that situation and is providing aid to cover the fixed costs of those vessels that choose to tie-up.
In its first month of operation, June 2020, some 67 vessels out of 1,984 vessels in the fleet chose to voluntarily tie-up. This meant that it was pleasing to see that the vast majority of our fleet considered markets had improved to the extent that fishing was considered more economically viable than recourse to this safety net scheme. .
The breakdown by size category for June requested by the Deputy is set out below. For July, the deadline for applications was 19 June and BIM is still examining these applications to determine eligibility under the Scheme. The Scheme is still open for applications for August.
|
Size Category |
Vessels voluntarily tying up |
Vessels in this category |
|
less than 6m |
10 |
592 |
|
6 less than 8m |
11 |
512 |
|
8 less than 10m |
20 |
372 |
|
10 less than 12m |
11 |
229 |
|
12 less than 15m |
7 |
68 |
|
15 less than 18m |
0 |
20 |
|
18 less than 24m |
6 |
78 |
|
more than 24m |
2 |
113 |
612. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a BDGP herd payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13528/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) provides for six years of payments to participating farmers for completion of actions which deliver accelerated genetic improvement in the Irish national herd and improvement of its environmental sustainability.
The application under the 2019 programme year for the person named has recently been finalised and payment will issue shortly.
613. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has established a working from home policy for its employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13540/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is my understanding that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has developed guidelines for civil service organisations (Working from Home during COVID-19 – Guidance for Civil Service Organisations), which is intended to assist civil service organisations as long as necessary to address the health and safety risks of COVID-19. These guidelines issued to HR Divisions across the Civil Service recently.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has also commenced work on the development of a remote working policy which will address remote working in the longer term for the Civil Service.
Policies with respect to remote working for my Department will be framed in the context of these guidelines and policies, whilst taking into account all the experience and innovation captured internally during the course of the current COVID 19 pandemic. This learning will be assessed for its applicability to a more broadly based remote working policy that is consistent with the Department's overall HR Strategy and the People Strategy for the Civil Service.
614. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when funds will be released related to the TAMS II scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13579/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe indicative budget for the TAMS II measures over the full course of the Rural Development Programme is €395m, which is spread over a suite of seven measures which are available under TAMS II. Tranche 17 of TAMS II closed for applications on 5 June 2020. The applications received under this tranche are currently being processed and applicants will be notified in due course regarding their application.
615. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of bovine animals found to have failed the TB eradication test in each of the past five years to date in respect of both the dairy herd and the beef herd. [13703/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is set out in the table below.
|
Herd Type |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
BEEF |
1,664 |
1,568 |
1,838 |
1,990 |
1,802 |
|
DAIRY |
7,021 |
8,964 |
8,580 |
9,186 |
8,813 |
|
OTHER |
371 |
351 |
337 |
395 |
347 |
|
SUCKLER |
6,300 |
6,077 |
6,590 |
5,976 |
5,841 |
|
Total |
15,356 |
16,960 |
17,345 |
17,547 |
16,803 |
616. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will introduce a bin fee waiver in view of Covid-19 in particular for households on low incomes (details supplied). [12997/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe waste management market in Ireland is serviced by private companies, where prices charged, including any service charges, are a contract matter between those companies and their customers. In an effort to ensure that all waste collections, both household and commercial, continue during the Covid-19 pandemic my Department established a Covid-19 High Level Waste Advisory Group consisting of key stakeholders from industry, the local authority sector and regulatory bodies. This Group, in cooperation with all elements of the waste industry, has helped to ensure that there have been no interruptions to waste collection services to date and ensuring that most civic amenity sites have remained open to the public for those without a household collection service.
Since mid-2017, a range of charging options have operated, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste. This provides flexibility to waste collectors to develop various service-price offerings that suit different household circumstances. Mandatory per kilogramme 'pay by weight' charging was not introduced. A Price Monitoring Group (PMG) was established in mid-2017 to monitor the on-going cost of residential waste collection to homeowners across Ireland as the ‘flat-rate structure’ was being phased out. While fluctuations in prices and service offerings have been observed, the overall trend has been relative price stability. Results from the PMG are available on my Department's website.
617. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will begin the process of remunicipalisation of waste collection services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13538/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities are responsible for municipal waste collection within their functional areas. The obligations on local authorities in relation to collecting household waste are set out in section 33 of the Waste Management Act 1996, as amended. In summary, it provides that each local authority shall collect, or arrange for the collection of, household waste within its functional area. The obligation to collect or arrange for the collection of household waste shall not apply if: - an adequate waste collection service is available in the local authority's functional area,
- the estimated costs of the collection of the waste would, in the opinion of the local authority, be unreasonably high, or
- the local authority is satisfied that adequate arrangements for the disposal of the waste concerned can reasonably be made by the holder of the waste.
It is open to any local authority to re-enter the waste collection market as direct service providers if they so choose. Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996 I am, as Minister, precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by a local authority, in particular circumstances, of a statutory function vested in it. However, I will soon be bringing forward an ambitious new waste policy which will include new measures to reform and strengthen waste collection, while enhancing the position of the consumer.
618. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding pass through charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12732/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy points out, there are a number of pass through costs that are applied to customer’s bills and these are set out in detail in a recent Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) information paper at:- https://www.cru.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/CRU19116-Pass-Through-Costs-for-Business-Electricity-Customers-20192020.pdf.
Addressing in turn each specific pass through cost raised by the Deputy, network charges pass through elements are applied for the use of the electricity transmission and distribution systems and designed to recover the total costs involved in operating, maintaining and developing the transmission and distribution networks. These charges are regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) and are entirely a matter for the CRU as independent regulator under the regulatory legislative framework. I have no function in relation to these charges.
The Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy has been in place since 2001 and is the overall support mechanism for various national policy objectives, particularly focussed on the development of renewable electricity. It is designed to compensate electricity suppliers for the additional costs they incur by purchasing electricity generated by these producers. The PSO levy has been vital in enabling significant progress to be made on the 2020 40% national target for renewable electricity and will continue to be so for the 70% target in the Climate Action Plan. Over the years, increases in the total amount of the PSO being passed though annually to electricity consumers have been associated with increasing renewable electricity generation, which is national policy, as well as resulting on occasion from lower wholesale electricity prices.
The Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (Public Service Obligations) Order 2002 provides that the calculation of the PSO is a matter for CRU and also sets out the manner in which CRU is to calculate it. CRU has recently published for consultation its proposed decision on the 2020/2021 levy, with its calculation of the levy for that year amounting to €480.11 million. This proposed decision is available at:-
https://www.cru.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2020-21-PSO-Proposed-Decision.pdf. Its final decision is due by 1st August 2020.
More broadly, responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is solely a matter for the CRU, which was assigned this responsibility following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999, and subsequent legislation. The CRU is solely accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas for the performance of its functions, including its functions relating to the pass through charges set out above, and not to the Minister.
As regard the pass through of the electricity tax, it is an excise duty charged on all supplies of electricity and levied within the framework of the EU Energy Tax Directive. It is accordingly entirely a matter for the Minister for Finance, and not the Minister for Climate Action, Communications Networks and Transport.
619. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will intervene in the process of extending the broadband connection to the remaining houses in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12780/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows the areas in Castlelough which will be included in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led intervention as well as areas targeted by commercial operators. The map is colour coded and searchable by address and Eircode - Premises in the AMBER area will be provided with high speed broadband through the State led Intervention, the contract for which was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland (NBI).
- The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The LIGHT BLUE area represents eir's commercial rural deployment plans to rollout high speed broadband to 300,000 premises, including County Tipperary part of a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017.
The activities of commercial operators delivering high speed broadband within BLUE and LIGHT BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.
The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 150Mbps from the outset. By the end of next year, NBI plans to pass in the region of 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed. All counties will see premises passed in the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high speed broadband within the next four years. The Government is committed to delivering high speed broadband to every home, farm, business and school in Ireland and my Department continues to engage with NBI to explore the feasibility of accelerating aspects of this rollout to establish the possibility of bringing forward premises which are currently scheduled in years 6 and 7 of the current plan to an earlier date. Further information on deployment activities associated with the rollout can be found on the NBI website http://www.nbi.ie.
To support remote working and connected communities, approximately 300 Broadband Connections Points (BCPs) were identified by Local Authorities to be connected to high speed broadband this year. This will assist communities to quickly get free public access to high speed broadband in advance of the main NBP deployment. The BCP delivery project is well underway and surveying of the BCP locations is progressing which will facilitate detailed design and installation. BCP locations are subject to change and a number of the premises initially identified are in the process of being replaced with alternative locations. The remaining BCPs remain on track for delivery by the end of 2020.
Proposed BCP locations including schools, library hubs, local sports facilities and other public places are available to view on the High Speed Broadband Map (www.broadband.gov.ie). The BCPs in identified public places will leverage the high speed broadband connection through a range of measures and initiatives, for example providing free public Wi-Fi, some will also have hot-desks, and some will be digital hub business centres where digital training, business information events and other SME supports are organised.
620. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration will be given to the measures outlined by a group (details supplied) to save the post office network. [12928/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Post is a commercial State body with a mandate to deliver a postal delivery service and a viable post office network. Government remains fully committed to a sustainable post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure in both rural and urban areas. An Post's social value has been particularly evident during the current Covid crisis.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, An Post has played a valuable role in its commitment to rural communities and to the elderly and vulnerable in our society. The company has provided a swift and sustained response to the crisis in the introduction of a number of initiatives, which were implemented with good will and efficiency throughout the country.
In response to the structural challenges facing the postal sector generally and An Post, the company put in place a Strategic Plan for the medium-long term future of the company. The Plan covers the period 2017 – 2021. In order to implement the Plan, the cost of which was estimated to be in the region of €150m, the Minister for Finance provided a loan of €30m to the company in December 2017 to support the renewal of the post office network (€15m) and the continued fulfilment of a 5 day per week mails delivery service (€15m).
An Post is continuing to undergo vital transformation as part of the delivery of its strategic plan which has seen the company split into two distinct business units, An Post Mails and Parcels and An Post Retail.
An Post is transforming its retail network by delivering new products and new formats. This includes, among other things, diversifying and growing the financial services products it provides for individuals and SMEs to include loans, credit cards and more foreign exchange products; local banking in association with the major banks and a full range of State Savings products. Two new dedicated sub-brands, An Post Money and a new business-to-business brand, An Post Commerce, were launched. Investment by An Post of €50 million in the network is about getting communities to use the enhanced services in their local post office.
In line with the relevant legislation, operational matters relating to the Post Office Network, including plans for individual post offices, are a matter for the Board and management of An Post and not one in which I, as Minister, have a statutory function.
621. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the monthly updated account for the Broadcast Authority of Ireland sound and vision fund from May 2019 to May 2020 will be provided in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12941/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is responsible for the administration of the Broadcasting Fund which includes the Sound and Vision Scheme. Part 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 sets out the mechanism by which the BAI shall provide funding for programmes. The Sound and Vision financial accounts are published yearly in the BAI’s Annual Report, which has not yet been published in respect of 2019. Details of all Sound and Vision rounds are available on the BAI website http://www.bai.ie/en/
In 2020, a special funding round has been made available under the Sound and Vision Scheme to support the independent commercial radio sector in its provision of public awareness and understanding of COVID-19. In total, €2.5m has been allocated to commercial radio stations and an additional round for community radio will take place over the summer.
622. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he will take to ensure that the ratio of funds awarded from the sound and vision fund in 2020 to screen content and radio content remains at the agreed ratio of 85:15, in view of his decision to create a special radio only Covid-19 round of the fund in May 2020 at a cost of €3.25 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12942/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding of 7% of net TV Licence fee receipts to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) for the administration of the Broadcasting Fund which includes the Sound and Vision and Archiving Schemes.
BAI is responsible for the administration of the Sound and Vision scheme and the approved scheme provides that BAI monitor the current ratio of 85:15 during the lifetime of the scheme and adjust as appropriate. It is a matter, therefore, for the BAI to decide what proportion of funds are allocated to TV and radio.
623. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will use his power under section 156(3) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 to ensure that the sound and vision fund can award another round of funding in September 2020 at a minimum to screen content and radio content, respectively as per the sound and vision 4 scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12943/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Broadcasting Fund, which is administered by the BAI, is funded by 7% of net licence fee receipts and supports the Archiving and Sound and Vision schemes. €7m of funding was allocated earlier this year in round 34 of Sound and Vision to 126 projects. In addition, the BAI agreed to put in place a Covid 19 funding round (Round 35) under the Sound and Vision Scheme of €2.5m for commercial radio stations. 32 applications were received from independent commercial radio stations and evaluated according to the COVID-19 Fund assessment criteria. All 32 applications are being allocated funding. The BAI expect that most of these awards will be paid by the end of June.
The BAI will operate a round specifically for community radio stations of €750,000 over the summer months (Round 36), with funding expected to be in place by early September.
Later this year, a separate round 37 for the commercial and community television broadcasters and public service broadcasters, including RTÉ radio services will be launched and it is envisioned this will also be funded by 7% of net licence fee receipts. Details of this round will be announced by the BAI in due course.
624. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of his Departments engagement with Bord na Móna prior to and after its decision to suspend all peat harvesting and commence work on its enhanced peatland rehabilitation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13013/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord na Móna announced, on 16 June, its intention to suspend peat harvesting activities for 2020 while its substitute consent application is under consideration by an Bord Pleanala and to put in place an enhanced peatlands rehabilitation scheme as a key component of Bord na Móna’s move away from peat. The Government is committed to supporting Bord na Móna to deliver an extensive programme of rehabilitation of the company’s land bank. This commitment was reaffirmed most recently in its response to the progress report of the Just Transition Commissioner, published on 22 May. That response confirmed that the Department and Bord na Móna are progressing the necessary measures to facilitate the advanced rehabilitation of a further 33,000 hectares of Bord na Móna bog previously harvested for peat used in electricity generation, commencing this year.
My Department has had intensive engagement with the company over recent months as part of the development of this scheme. Most recently, in advance of Bord na Móna’s announcement, my Department wrote to the company on 12 June confirming a number of further specific steps that will now need to be undertaken as a matter of urgency to finalise the design of the proposed scheme. This work is ongoing between Bord na Mona and the Department.
