Written Answers Nos. 355-374
355. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if issues raised in the media (details supplied) regarding the new national forensic mental services hospital, Portrane, will receive a response; if an advice notice will be provided to local residents on possible disruptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36080/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
356. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a mobility scooter will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36108/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
357. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when an application under the fair deal scheme will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36112/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
358. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will examine the level of carbon sequestration from hedgerows; if he will provide incentives for the protection and development of hedgerows; if financial supports will be provided to landowners in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35972/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department recognises the significant role that our native hedgerows provide to the natural landscape of our countryside. Not only do our hedgerows contribute to the sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere but they are also vital as a habitat for wildlife, a resource for biodiversity and a unique heritage feature that must be managed and protected.
To address the lack of data on hedgerow sequestration, Teagasc has recently commenced a research project called “Farm-Carbon – Farm Hedgerows and Non-forest Woodland Carbon”. The overall objective of this project is to “advance the understanding of the contribution of hedgerows and non-forest woodland to carbon stocks in agricultural landscapes, and to identify approaches to maintain and enhance this contribution”.
While this project is at an early stage of deployment, I am confident that the final results will provide the necessary data to allow for the development of strategies and schemes to maximise the carbon sequestration potential of this valuable resource and contribute additional data required for the inclusion of hedgerows in the national inventory calculations.
In 2009, the Department sought to enhance the protection afforded to Irish hedgerows by designating them as a “Landscape Feature” under the Good Agriculture and Environmental Conditions of Cross Compliance. This designation not only ensures that hedgerows are a protected feature under the Common Agricultural Policy rules but also that they are eligible areas for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme and the Areas of Natural Constraint rules. The protection of hedgerows is further enhanced under Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations which set out the requirements placed on a farmer where the removal of hedgerows is being considered.
359. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent of research done into the use of growing sugar beet as a rotational crop and the possible production of bioethanol; the extent of such production at present; the viability or otherwise of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36105/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIndigenous renewable energy plays a vital role in our domestic fuel mix and will become even more important in the context of reducing our reliance on imported fuels and in meeting our challenging renewable energy targets for 2020 and 2030 and decarbonising our energy systems by 2050. The agriculture sector has a key role to play in the supply of bioenergy feedstocks as a positive contribution to the decarbonisation of energy systems through the displacement of fossil fuels and energy intensive materials. The 5th progress report of the National Renewable Energy Action Plan outlines in detail the development and share of biofuels made from wastes, residues, non-food cellulosic material, and ligno-cellulosic material.
In terms of the extent of production of beet, research has shown that prior to the sugar industry being decommissioned, sugar beet was the main break crop of choice on many tillage farms. It’s superior profitability relative to other crops was a significant factor in its selection as a break crop. Since the sugar industry was decommissioned, the area of beet (fodder beet and sugar beet) has declined; however, it has stabilised at between 8,000 and 10,000 hectares in the last 5 years. Beet is now grown due to demand for highly palatable, high energy feed in ruminant diets but is still used as a break crop in tillage rotations.
In 2020, some 8,268 hectares of beet (primarily fodder beet and some sugar beet) was declared to my Department under the Basic Payment Scheme. Other break crops are now been grown such as maize, protein crops (mainly beans) and oilseed rape.
360. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite an application for a PCS number (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35813/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraBiocidal products may only be marketed and used in Ireland once they are registered with my Department and are entered on the “Product Register” in accordance with Regulation 20 of Statutory Instrument 427 of 2013.
The process for registering biocidal products aims to ensure that the making available on the Irish market of such products does not result in harmful effects on human or animal health or unacceptable effects on the environment. Each individual trade name must be registered as a separate biocidal product and will have its own unique PCS registration number or IE/BPA registration number.
I can confirm that the application in question has been placed in the biocidal products application system for processing and officials from the Pesticide Registration and Control Division will contact the applicant in due course. All applications are processed in chronological order. Since March of this year, my Department has received approximately 900 new product applications, of which the vast majority are for hand sanitising and disinfectant products.
You will appreciate, therefore, that processing times for these applications are running longer than usual. In order to expedite the processing of outstanding applications, additional staff resources have been allocated to this area of activity.
361. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a refusal for the beef finisher scheme was issued to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary despite the applicant being able to provide evidence they are farming a holding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35815/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Beef Finisher Payment (BFP) scheme is a one-off, exchequer funded grant aid scheme under the Covid 19 State Aid Temporary Framework. The objective of the BFP is to provide support for beef finishing farms in Ireland which have been severely impacted by the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The scheme was open to all beef farmers who presented animals for slaughter in the period 1 February 2020 to 12 June 2020 inclusive and who fulfil the requirements set out in the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. An application for the scheme was submitted by the person named on the 20 August 2020.
Among other requirements the Terms & Conditions of the scheme set out that an eligible applicant must be farming a holding in respect of which a valid Basic Payment Scheme application is submitted in 2020 to the Department prior to the 30 September 2020.
As part of the application process, the application system indicated to the person named that no valid BPS had been received from him to date and it informed him that a BPS application must be submitted by the 30 September 2020. No such application was received and a letter informing the person named of the decision to exclude him from the scheme issued to him on the 31 October. This letter also informed him of his right to appeal the decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
362. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a basic payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35820/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application for the 2020 Basic Payment (BPS) and the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Schemes on the 5 May 2020.
The 70% advance payment due under the BPS has now issued to nominated bank account of the person named.
Payment of the 30% balancing payment under BPS is scheduled to commence in early December.
363. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of progress made on the commitment in the programme for Government to explore fully the potential for growing fibre crops such as hemp, considering whether these crops have a viable market. [35839/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy has referred to, the Programme for Government (PFG) has committed to exploring the potential for the growing of fibre crops such as hemp.
My Department has been proactive on this issue and undertook a consultation on the hemp industry in 2019. This consultation included those involved in hemp regulation, research and the then hemp representative bodies.
My Department has and continues to engage with relevant stakeholders from different hemp representative bodies. Notwithstanding the above and as outlined in the PFG, my Department will engage with relevant stakeholders in early 2021 to fully explore the viability of growing fibre crops such as hemp and whether viable markets exist.
364. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to work collaboratively with an organisation (details supplied) and other NGOs to enforce equine ID and a clampdown on horses being kept on public land without the landowner's permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35840/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraRepresentatives from my Department sit on the Dublin Regional Horse Welfare Group. My Department is strongly committed to the aims of this group and will continue to support the projects that developed from the Group. While Covid-19 has somewhat hampered the Groups activities in 2020 in the areas of outreach and education, my Department continue to collaborate with, and support the other members of the working group in the area of equine identification and welfare.
In relation to the matter of horses straying on public lands, the Control of Horses Act is the primary mechanism for dealing with these.
Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, a local authority may make bye-laws to control activities involving horses in its functional area and may prohibit the keeping of horses in specified areas.
My Department has also taken a proactive approach in tackling challenges that arise in the case of horses by developing facilities for urban and traveller horse populations and in educating young people among these communities in the care and welfare of horses. This work is done in close collaboration with the local authorities involved.
365. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his action plan for dealing with the urban equine crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35841/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department dedicates a substantial level of resources and funding to animal welfare. In December 2019, I announced the largest ever allocation of funding from my Department of €2.906m to 106 animal welfare organisations, a number of which undertake work with equines.
Regarding the urban horse issue, my Department continues to support a number of urban horse projects nationwide, bringing education on all aspects of equine welfare to disadvantaged areas. As an example, in the context of breeding, the DSPCA with financial assistance from my Department, continues to facilitate castration clinics and education programs in an effort to address the problem of over-breeding which can add to welfare issues.
In 2018 and 2019, my Department also funded an equine welfare course aimed at horse owners, in particular those who have involvement with trotting/harness type animals. Four of these courses were run including one in Garristown, Co Dublin.
In addition, the Programme for Government also contains commitments to provide additional urban horse welfare programmes to which I am fully committed. My Department continues to take a proactive approach in tackling challenges that arise in the case of horses by developing facilities for urban and traveller horse populations and in educating young people among these communities in the care and welfare of horses. This work is done in close collaboration with the local authorities involved.
Officials from my Department also sit on the Dublin Region Horse Welfare Working Group with local authorities and relevant NGOs.
Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines including prohibiting horses in certain areas, the issuing of licences, the seizure of horses in contravention of the Act. These powers can be used in respect of straying horses which includes horses put on land without the owner’s permission, including public land. The local authorities may also prosecute offenders.
The Deputy may be aware that my Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect for investigation. If the Deputy wishes to pass on details of any cases of alleged neglect or cruelty that she is aware of, they will be fully investigated by my Department and appropriate actions, up to and including prosecution, may be taken.
The dedicated e-mail address and Helpline in place for reporting suspected cases of animal welfare are:
Helpline Phone No: Call Save - 0761 064408, phone - 01 607 2379.
Email address - animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie
366. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding Christmas trees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35842/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe guidelines regarding current restrictions due to Covid-19 are available on Gov.ie and the HSE.ie
367. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the delivery of the animal welfare strategy for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35844/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe completion on the new Animal Welfare Strategy is at an advanced stage and will be launched in the coming weeks. This will be Ireland’s first, dedicated Animal Welfare Strategy and will be backed by the resources and expertise within my Department, with other Departments and Agencies, and with stakeholders and civil society.
368. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has lease arrangements with co-working real estate companies; and, if so, the details of the leases, including the terms of the lease, location, price and duration. [35850/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no such lease arrangements.
With the exception of those set out below all issues in relation to leases for Government Departments/Offices, including my Department, are a matter for the Office of Public Works.
|
Property leased |
Leased From |
Location |
Term of Lease |
Term of Lease |
Cost of Lease Per year |
|
Office Accommodation |
Teagasc |
Mellows Campus Athenry, Co. Galway |
5 years |
5 Years Renewal pending in 2021 |
€100,000 |
|
Office Accommodation and Lands |
Teagasc |
Ballyderown,Moorepark, Co Cork |
Lapsed |
Renewal negotiations in train |
|
|
Pet Checking Facility |
CIE Property |
Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford |
4 years |
4 Years Renewal pending in 2021 |
€6,000 |
369. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department leases additional office space that is outside its departmental building and the estates section of the OPW; and, if so, the details of the lease, including the terms of the lease, location, price and duration. [35868/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to space leased by my Department is given below:
|
Property leased |
Leased From |
Location |
Term of Lease |
Term of Lease |
Cost of Lease Per year |
|
Office Accommodation |
Teagasc |
Mellows Campus Athenry, Co. Galway |
5 years |
5 Years Renewal pending in 2021 |
€100,000 |
|
Office Accommodation and Lands |
Teagasc |
Ballyderown,Moorepark, Co Cork |
Lapsed |
Renewal negotiations in train |
|
|
Pet Checking Facility |
CIE Property |
Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford |
4 years |
4 Years Renewal pending in 2021 |
€6,000 |
370. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of work being carried out to establish the office of the national food ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35897/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to ensure fairness, equity and transparency in the food chain by establishing a new authority called the National Food Ombudsman to enforce the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive, which must be transposed into Irish law by 1 May 2021; and to have a specific role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland.
A two-step approach is being adopted to this commitment.
Firstly, my Department is currently preparing a proposal for a Statutory Instrument to directly transpose the UTP Directive as it stands. Secondly, the legal requirements for the establishment of a new Office of a Food Ombudsman are also being considered, including the requirement for primary legislation in order to give that Office additional powers going beyond those in the UTP Directive.
The 2021 Budget includes an initial provision of €1 million to assist with the start up costs for this new office.
371. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the membership and minutes of the stakeholder forum convened to address the challenges facing the agricultural and livestock merchant sector with respect to EU regulations on the dispensing and prescribing of certain medicinal products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35898/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following organisations are currently members of the Antiparasitic Resistance Stakeholder Group.
- Agricultural Consultants Association
- Acorn Independent Merchants
- Animal Health Ireland
- Animal and Plant Health Association
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Independent Licenced Merchants Association
- Irish Cattle and Sheep Association
- Irish Cattle Breeding Federation
- Irish Co-operative Organisation Society
- Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association
- Irish Farmers Association
- Irish Pharmacy Union
- Health Products Regulatory Authority
- Teagasc
- University College Dublin
- Veterinary Council of Ireland
- Veterinary Ireland
There have been two meetings of this group to date, the first meeting on 17th June 2020, and a second meeting on 9th September. The terms of reference for this group include the identification, proposal and management of solutions to allow Ireland comply with Regulation 2019/6, whilst recognising the current expertise of existing actors, in particular licensed merchants and pharmacists. This group has developed an action plan that has as one of it's key objectives to facilitate an efficient, competitive supply chain through effective regulation and innovation. My Department has established this group to address in a holistic way, the challenges faced by all stakeholders in light of the change in route of supply of antiparasitics, but also to protect the efficacy of antiparasitics for the benefit of animal health and welfare, and the sustainability of food production and the agri-food sector.
372. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the most recent analysis conducted by his Department on the contribution of the biosector to the net foreign earnings of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35899/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn June 2012, the Department released a report entitled The contribution of the ‘biosector’ to Ireland’s net foreign earnings: a provisional estimate for 2008[1]. This report found that, in 2008, the biosector accounted for 40% (over €8 billion) of net foreign earnings from merchandise exports. This was more than double the biosector’s 19% share (almost €16 billion) of merchandise exports in that year. The reasons for the sector’s disproportionately large net contribution to earnings from exports included:
- Import requirements per euro of Biosector exports were lower than in the Non-Biosector and
- Receipts of EU payments were almost entirely in support of agriculture and its exports. This is especially a feature of the Biosector, unlike the Non-Biosector, where they are negligible.
While a similar analysis has not been conducted since 2012, each year the Department monitors the contribution of the sector and publishes up-to-date analysis and statistical information from a variety of sources in the Annual Review and Outlook.
The Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2020 [2], which I launched last month, outlines that agri-food exports in 2019 were €14.5 billion. This represents growth of 42% since 2012 when exports were valued at €10.2 billion. It also outlines that the food and drink sector continues to source a very large proportion of its raw materials in Ireland and states the Food & Drink sector purchased the majority or 78.6% of its materials in Ireland in 2018, while the services sectors purchased just 33.5% of their materials in Ireland.
The sector is a key economic and social driver underpinning the vitality of rural villages and towns across the country and continues to make a substantial contribution to the Irish economy.
[1] https://igees.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Reportnetforeignearningscontribution200712.pdf
[2] https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/agri-foodindustry/agri-foodandtheeconomy/economicpublications/aro2020/
373. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Food Wise 2025 high-level implementation committee has engaged in a reassessment of the growth projections contained within the Food Wise 2025 strategy in view of the challenges raised by Brexit and Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35900/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Food Wise High Level Implementation Committee has met four times since of the outbreak of the pandemic and focussed on the issues around COVID-19 and Brexit preparedness. I chaired my first meeting of that Committee in September where we discussed the Government's ongoing response to COVID-19 and the various supports that have been put in place across Government and the State Agencies. We also discussed work on Brexit preparedness, which has of course been ongoing for the last few years.
Activity within the agri-food sector is essential to maintaining food supply chains and therefore has continued in operation during the pandemic. While production was not significantly impacted, demand for food and drink products were subject to widespread market disturbance. In the first few months of the pandemic there were lower prices across all commodities, but these have now largely stabilised. Although food retail demand increased, it did not offset the decline in food service demand, which experienced a near-total collapse due to the shutdown of the hospitality sector across Europe and beyond. That demand imbalance had and is still having significant consequences for primary producers and agri-food businesses. Agri-food exports for January to August 2020 are down 3.3% in value compared to the first 8 months of 2019. My Department will continue to monitor this and other impacts for the sector.
The agri-food sector has been well served over the last 20 years by having a series of ten-year strategies to guide its development and we have committed in the Programme for Government that this should continue with the preparation of a new strategy to 2030. A Committee of sector stakeholders has been working since late last year on this new strategy. Their terms of reference are to outline the vision and key objectives, with associated actions, required to ensure the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the agri-food sector in the decade ahead. Obviously the Committee will consider both COVID-19 and Brexit in developing this new strategy.
374. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of exporters requiring certification for products being exported to the UK that have registered for access to the export IT system of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35901/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegardless of the outcome of the current EU-UK trade talks, from 1 January 2021, new regulatory and customs requirements will be part of trading with or through Great Britain. My Department, as part of the whole-of-Government approach, has been very active in relation to preparedness for these significant and enduring changes, including in relation to the provision of export certification in order to meet UK import requirements, in respect of which further detail is still awaited.
My Department has conducted an extensive communications campaign reminding all operators who may be directly impacted by Brexit in their capacity as importers and/or exporters of the need to prepare for Brexit, and the practical steps to be taken in that regard. As part of this campaign, I wrote to potentially affected clients last week, asking them to update their registration details so that my Department can, for example, ensure that any operator wishing to export product to Great Britain after 1 January 2021 will have the necessary access to a specifically developed export IT platform. To date, 364 clients have registered with the Department to get access to this export IT platform.
