Written Answers Nos. 2490-2508
2490. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding that has been allocated to the school fruit and vegetable scheme in each of the years 2010 to 2020, in tabular form; the funding amounts within each year that have been provided by EU funds; the estimated corresponding figures for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19109/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Scheme in its current format commenced in 2017 for school year 2017/2018. Ireland’s EU allocation for School Fruit and Vegetables, national funds, participation rates during this time period is:
|
School Year |
Participating Schools |
Number of Pupils |
EU Contribution € |
National Contribution € |
|
2017 - 2018 |
825 |
135,792 |
*2,124,831 |
1,857,000 |
|
2018 - 2019 |
700 |
117,234 |
*1,849,760 |
1,857,000 |
|
2019 - 2020 |
700 |
112,962 |
*2,266,887 |
1,939,142 |
|
2020 – 2021 |
**100 |
**20,000 |
*2,238,463 |
**500,000 |
*additional allocation granted above initial allocation
**estimated. The 2020/2021 programme pivoted due to Covid-19 to DEIS schools only and involved a home delivery programme and an in-school programme due to commence post-Easter 2021.
2491. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proportion of foods provided under the school fruit and vegetable scheme in 2020 that are organic and sourced here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19110/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs per the specific EU Regulations governing the School Scheme, the current considerations for the Member State to underpin their choice of products for distribution is seasonality, variety, availability, healthy and environmental aspects. Member States may also encourage local, short-supply chain, organic and quality scheme products if they so wish, while being mindful of their obligations to ensure adherence to EU Treaty rules on freedom of movement of goods for other Member States.
Sourcing of product for the Programme in Ireland is through a centralised supplier on the basis of open public tender procurement competition (as mandated by the EU Regulation). This process is managed by Bord Bia as the designated aid applicant.
The designated supplier, where possible, sources home grown fruit/vegetables for the Food Dudes programme from local, seasonal, and sustainable Quality Assured producers. None of the product supplied to school children in Ireland is specifically classified in the Organic category. I am advised that the percentage of locally sourced produce is currently in a range between 5% to 10%.
Imports of fresh fruit and vegetables are necessary where the required products are not cultivated here or not suitable for the further processing and packaging required for delivery to the schools. The programme is run from end September/October to end June; missing out on three key months (July-Sept) where Irish produce is in season, readily available and of peak quality. The focus within the Food Dudes programme is the delivery of quality fresh fruit and vegetables to school children, and to maximise this within the allocated Budget.
2492. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there will be any follow on scheme from the beef finisher scheme which was introduced in 2020 as a grant aid scheme to help beef finisher farmers struggling under Covid-19 in view that many of these farmers are still under financial pressure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19149/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe nature of all markets is that the price will fluctuate especially in the case of market disturbance, as has been evidenced during the COVID-19 crisis and also the prolonged uncertainty surrounding Brexit. The Department continuously monitors the market situation for beef and other agri-food commodities, with a view to responding to crisis situations where possible.
A good example of such a response is the €50 million funding provided for the Beef Finishers Payment (BFP) under the COVID-19 temporary state aid framework, The Beef Finishers Payment (BFP) provided support for beef finishing enterprises who were most affected by the market disturbance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020.
The Department and I are working to ensure that business and services to farmers can continue, keeping food and other processing facilities operational, ensuring that payments and commercial activities that are necessary to protect farm incomes can continue. In addition, the Department continues to monitor the broader context and specifically any market impact of COVID-19.
On a wider level, the Department provides a range of financial aids to support beef farm incomes and to support economic and environmental efficiency. The core support for the beef sector under the current RDP is the €300 Million Beef Data and Genomics Programme. In addition to this support, over the last two years, over €200 million of additional supports were made available specifically to the beef sector, including the BEAM and BEEP schemes in 2019 and the Beef Finishers Payment and BEEP-S in 2020. In addition, the Beef Sector Efficiency Pilot with allocation of €45 million has been launched recently.
I also secured €6m to market our suckler beef abroad for the first time.
2493. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter in relation to grant aid (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19160/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a claim for payment under the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme of TAMS II on 30th September 2020.
Delays were encountered as there were some queries regarding land documentation which needed to be resolved prior to the payment claim being processed. Processing of the claim is now being finalised and, if all is in order, payment will issue shortly.
2494. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking given the social, cultural and political significance of the Irish Land Commission and the files therein to ensure that by 2022, 30 years after the Land Commission ceased to exist, that there will be full access to all of the records therein; the initiatives being taken to digitise these significant historical records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19202/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen the Irish Land Commission ceased functioning in 1992, its work was unfinished. My Department is charged with completing the work of the former Irish Land Commission (ILC) and, as such, the records of the Irish Land Commission are still working documents, accessed by my staff daily.
Decisions relating to access of the records of the former ILC are made by officials in the Department’s Records Branch in Portlaoise. Owners and purchasers and/or their personal/legal representatives are granted access to certain documents by prior consultation with that office. Access is only permitted where documentary evidence of ownership or entitlement to ownership is provided, together with payment of the prescribed fee.
Whilst the social, cultural and political significance of the Irish Land Commission is accepted, my Department currently has no plans to digitise all of the eight million plus Land Commission records held by the Department. Digitisation of records on such a vast scale is not considered feasible at this stage, having regard to both the form and condition of many of the records held and given the sheer scale of such an operation. However, my Department is examining the possibility of digitising certain key search aids which will enable electronic searches to be carried out by members of the public in order to ascertain if specific records exist. This work is at an early stage and a process of internal consultation between Legal Services, IT and Procurement Divisions is taking place.
My Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Trinity College Dublin in relation to the "Beyond 2022 Project" which has undertaken an initial scoping of the pre-1922 ILC records. That project is working to recreate the records lost in the destruction of the Public Records Office of Ireland at the Four Courts in 1922.
2495. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when under-18 and pony equestrian competitions will recommence. [19304/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the current Level 5 Regulations, Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) authorise and monitor elite equestrian events. Under these restrictions, only professional and elite riders are permitted to compete. HSI has engaged with its Olympic disciplines on ensure the management of bona fide events at authorised venues.
I understand the concerns raised by the Deputy in this matter. I also recognise the importance of these activities to those involved. It is my hope that we can see a return to more activities as we continued our phased exit from COVID-19 restrictions.
2496. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a native woodland application by persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19306/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for an afforestation licence was received in May 2020 for the persons named and has been referred to my Department’s Ecology Unit. The application site is near 10 designated sites including the Blackwater River (Kerry) SAC. Therefore, the impact of any afforestation operations on the sites and the surrounding area, must be carefully considered before deciding on the licence application.
If the applicants wishes they may provide a Natura Impact Statement (NIS). The NIS must be prepared by a suitably qualified person. An NIS can considerably reduce the time taken to assess the application, as once received, the NIS will be examined by an ecologist within two to three months and a decision will issue once the assessment of the application is complete.
2497. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that are in place in meat plants to halt the spread of the P1 variant of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19386/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health and the HSE are the competent authorities in matters relating to public health. My Department continues to contribute to the HSE-chaired National Outbreak Control Team as part of the whole-of-Government response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is supporting the HSE in the context of local outbreak teams and overseeing a programme of serial testing of workers at larger food plants and other businesses.
Serial testing (i.e. four weeks of weekly testing) at food production facilities started in September 2020. Seven cycles have since been completed and an eight cycle is currently in progress. A positivity rate of 0.66% for the seventh cycle confirms the downward trend seen since cases peaked in January. At the end of the first week of the current cycle, 5,616 swabs had been taken in 28 facilities, and 20 positive cases detected, giving a positivity rate of 0.36% for the week.
The Department continues to provide any assistance requested by the HSE to facilitate this testing programme. It has also been assisting the HSE in relation to the use of rapid antigen detections tests (RADT) for SARS-CoV-2 as a risk management tool in food businesses. To facilitate the rollout of antigen testing at meat plants, 26 sites have been registered and almost 17,000 testing kits supplied. Training videos have been made available online since 12 March and webinars delivered by staff from the Department and UCD have been well attended. In addition, laboratory staff from the Department have made site visits on request to provide further guidance to Food Business Operators (FBOs) on self-sampling and on-site testing.
Furthermore, officials from my Department undertake inspections on behalf of the HSA, including unannounced inspections, in DAFM-approved food premises and these inspections are ongoing.
2498. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position he is taking in the trilogue negotiations on the new CAP he discussed and that was voted on by the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19387/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn June 2018, the European Commission put forward the proposed legislation for the new CAP. The Commission made these proposals to the European Parliament and to the Council of Ministers, who, in October 2020, adopted their respective positions on the proposals.
Trilogue negotiations between the European Commission, the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament commenced in November 2020 in order to find common ground and reach overall agreement. During the trilogues, the rotating Presidency represents the Council of Ministers and reports back to Council, and may seek a revised mandate with a view to attaining agreement.
The negotiating position (General Approach) adopted by the Council of Ministers is not voted on by the Houses of the Oireachtas, and neither is any change to that position that may be deemed necessary during the trilogue negotiations. However, I have always sought to have broad consultation and regular stakeholder input to my Department's consideration of the proposals. Throughout the process the CAP post-2020 Stakeholder Consultative Committee, established in 2019, has provided a forum to facilitate stakeholder engagement, and to allow all the stakeholders an ongoing opportunity to express their views. The Committee meets on a regular basis, and is kept updated as the CAP reform discussions progress.
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.
2499. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers in each county that secured an extension in the GLAS scheme; the number by county that did not remain within the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19415/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is provided below.
|
County |
Total Number (No.) of GLAS 1 and GLAS 2 contracts |
No. approved for extension |
No. not extended |
|
Carlow |
385 |
351 |
34 |
|
Cavan |
1,311 |
1,231 |
80 |
|
Clare |
2,260 |
2,190 |
70 |
|
Cork |
3,051 |
2,828 |
223 |
|
Donegal |
2,852 |
2,755 |
97 |
|
Dublin |
72 |
66 |
6 |
|
Galway |
4,246 |
4,033 |
213 |
|
Kerry |
2,584 |
2,455 |
129 |
|
Kildare |
304 |
274 |
30 |
|
Kilkenny |
612 |
569 |
43 |
|
Laois |
544 |
503 |
41 |
|
Leitrim |
1,416 |
1,370 |
46 |
|
Limerick |
1,308 |
1,253 |
55 |
|
Longford |
837 |
789 |
48 |
|
Louth |
217 |
195 |
22 |
|
Mayo |
3,788 |
3,625 |
163 |
|
Meath |
603 |
550 |
53 |
|
Monaghan |
707 |
660 |
47 |
|
Offaly |
734 |
681 |
53 |
|
Roscommon |
2,020 |
1,941 |
79 |
|
Sligo |
1,267 |
1,204 |
63 |
|
Tipperary |
1,577 |
1,477 |
100 |
|
Waterford |
469 |
441 |
28 |
|
Westmeath |
872 |
807 |
65 |
|
Wexford |
976 |
883 |
93 |
|
Wicklow |
469 |
445 |
24 |
|
TOTAL |
35,481 |
33,576 |
1,905 |
It should be noted that the numbers above may be subject to change following submission of GLAS payment claims as part of Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) process.
2500. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has commissioned an analysis of the impact of Covid-19 on sheep wool markets; the financial impact this will have on the farmers affected and the domestic economy; his plans to provide financial supports to those affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19416/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra2501. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 252 of 11 November 2020, the status of the review of the potential demand in domestic and international markets for wool based products; when the review will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19417/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra2502. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide additional financial supports to sheep farmers in consideration of the deterioration in wool prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19418/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra2550. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to introduce new supports or enhance existing supports for sheep farmers in response to ongoing depressed wool prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20277/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2500 to 2502, inclusive, and 2550 together.
Wool production is an important component of agri-industry. It is a sustainable, organic, renewable natural material which can be used in a wide range of products such as textiles, fertilisers, insulation and packaging.
Following the allocation of the significant amount of €100,000 for the review of the potential demand in international markets for wool-based products such as insulation and fertilisers, I initiated a consultation process to determine the terms of reference for such a review. Details of the proposed Terms of Reference to implement this review were published on the Department's website www.agriculture.gov.ie under ‘Consultations’ on the 11th March, 2021 and include but are not limited to the following - The identification of market opportunities domestically and internationally for wool based products; carrying out economic feasibility and cost benefit analysis on proposed market opportunities; determining mechanisms that could be used to support industry initiatives and identification of potential research projects applicable to supporting the identified market opportunities.
Interested parties were invited to submit comments on the proposed Terms of Reference and/or submissions on the potential market opportunities for wool products on the domestic and international markets. The closing date for submissions was 2 April 2021 and my officials are currently reviewing the 38 submissions received with a view to finalising the terms of reference. The time frame for the completion of the review including the e tendering process, consultation with stakeholders and publication of the report is end of November 2021.
There are no plans to carry out a review on the impact of COVID-19 on the sheep sector. It should be noted that currently the national average sheep price is 626.08c/Kg which is 20.7% higher than the same period last year. Year to date slaughter is also down 7.7% on the same period last year. Additionally, the value of sheep exports increased by 12% according to estimates from Bord Bia’s performance and prospects 2020 – 2021. This strong performance is expected to continue in 2021 in the context of contracting supplies globally.
2503. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will seek to ensure that the next CAP will allow for a front-loaded payment per hectare basic farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19419/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDiscussions are continuing around the new legislative proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The draft proposals currently include a number of measures which concern redistribution of direct payments, including:
- an overall cap of €100,000;
- degressive reduction of payments above €60,000;
- a complementary redistributive income support scheme, and
- the convergence of payments towards the average payment per hectare.
The mandatory or optional nature of these measures and the finer details of their implementation are still under negotiation. My Department is at present examining these proposals carefully to assess their potential impact on applicants. There are a number of elements involved, and it will be necessary to consider all of these, as well as the way they interact. I continue to engage with the farm organisations on this critically important issue.
The final shape of the CAP regulations, including the redistributive elements, will not be known until agreement has been reached, which is expected in the coming months.
2504. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average level of payment that would be paid on all remaining hectares in the event of a €400 per hectare basic farm payment being allocated for the first 30 hectares of each farm and in the event of a €60,000 upper limit for pillar 1 payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19420/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIf all farmers were paid €400 per hectare on the first 30 hectares the average level of payment on all remaining hectares would be reduced by more than 90%. The cost of an allocation of €400 per hectare on the first 30 hectares held by farmers would be over €1 billion, which is over 90% of the national ceiling for Pillar I. All remaining Pillar I payments would therefore, be similarly reduced in order to finance this payment. In practice, this would also mean that the allocation for ECO Schemes would be reduced significantly below the minimum of 20% contained in the proposals agreed by Council.
As this maximum €12,000 payment (30 hectares*€400) would encompass 90% of the farmers payments it is, therefore, extremely unlikely that an upper limit of €60,000 would have an effect once the remaining 10% of the national ceiling for Pillar I payments is divided between the remaining Pillar I schemes.
Discussions on the allocations under the Pillar I ceiling are ongoing at present, however, it is likely that a specified amount will be required under the ECO Schemes and to support Young Farmers. It is also likely Member States will be restricted in the total payment per hectare payable under the Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability Scheme.
2505. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the meeting by his departmental officials with a group (details supplied) on 11 March 2021 in relation to its withdrawal from the 2030 agrifood strategy committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19467/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Environmental Pillar nominee to the Agri-Food 2030 Stakeholder Committee announced their withdrawal from the process at a Committee meeting on 25th February. Following that announcement, I, along with my colleagues Minister-of- State Hackett and Minister-of-State Heydon, expressed regret at the decision and hoped the Pillar would reconsider and engage in the strategy formation process, which is still ongoing.
At the request of the Environmental Pillar, my Ministerial colleagues and I, along with the Chair of the 2030 Committee and Department officials, met with a range of representatives on 11th March. We listened to their views and again invited the Environmental Pillar to re-engage with the process.
2506. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if further engagement will take place with the Environmental Pillar following a meeting held by his departmental officials on 11 March 2021 with a range of representatives from the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19468/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Environmental Pillar nominee to the Agri-Food 2030 Stakeholder Committee announced their withdrawal from the process at a Committee meeting on 25 February. Following that announcement, I, along with my colleagues Minister of State Hackett and Minister of State Heydon, expressed regret at the decision and hoped the Pillar would reconsider and engage in the strategy formation process, which is still ongoing.
At the request of the Environmental Pillar, my Ministerial colleagues and I, along with the Chair of the 2030 Committee and Department officials, met with a range of representatives on 11 March. We listened to their views and again invited the Environmental Pillar to re-engage with the process.
Since then, a public consultation process on the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the draft Agri-Food Strategy to 2030 has been launched for public consultation and I am sure the Environmental Pillar will contribute to this process. In addition, the Environmental Pillar has been invited to participate in the forthcoming Food Systems Summit National Dialogues, which will provide an important forum for discussion on the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of Ireland's food system, as well as the contribution we can make to strengthening global food systems.
2507. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there will be further revisions of the draft Agri-Food 2030 Strategy before publication in April 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19469/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt its meeting on 25 March, the Agri-Food 2030 Stakeholder Committee agreed to publish a draft strategy, subject to some final revisions, as part of the public consultation on the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Strategy,
The public consultation has now been launched, including the draft Strategy, and will run for an eight-week period. The public consultation is available at the following link:
Gov.ie - Public Consultation on the Environmental Assessment of the Draft Agri-Food Strategy to 2030. (www.gov.ie)
The Committee will take the outcome of the public consultation process into account before finalising the Strategy in the summer.
2508. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when under-18 pony and equestrian competitions can recommence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19478/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the current Level 5 Regulations, Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) authorise and monitor elite equestrian events. Under these restrictions, only professional and elite riders are permitted to compete. HSI has engaged with its Olympic disciplines on ensure the management of bona fide events at authorised venues.
I understand the concerns raised by the Deputy in this matter. I also recognise the importance of these activities to those involved. It is my hope that we can see a return to more activities as we continued our phased exit from COVID-19 restrictions.
