Written Answers Nos. 2547-2565
2547. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of controlled finishing units by county in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20273/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra2548. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of outbreaks of tuberculosis in controlled finishing units by county in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20274/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2547 and 2548 together.
As part of the TB eradication programme, beef finishing herds who are experiencing a TB restriction and if they meet the necessary criteria, are allowed to avail of a special status, termed “Controlled Finishing Unit (CFU)”. Therefore, a CFU herd cannot experience a new outbreak of TB as it is already restricted for an outbreak of TB. Where a herd meets the criteria to be regarded as a CFU under the programme, a special official supervisory and testing protocol is established. Such herds are not exempted from testing, reactor removal or disinfection requirements.
Restricted CFUs are TB tested at least once a year. This CFU status arrangement allows the delivery of an effective level of disease risk management while controlling the risk of further disease spread in compliance with animal health legislation and enabling business continuity in this particular type of enterprise through the inward movement of cattle. Cattle from CFU herds restricted under the TB Eradication programme are only permitted to move to an EU-approved slaughter plant. My Department does not differentiate CFU herds on the basis of ownership.
Due to the small number of CFUs in some counties, DAFM cannot provide a county-level breakdown for GDPR reasons.
Controlled Finishing Units per year
|
- |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Total |
468 |
511 |
510 |
529 |
552 |
561 |
538 |
2549. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the types of broad spectrum antibiotics sold as veterinary medicinal products sold in Ireland; the volume of doses of each type sold in each of the years 2007 to 2020 and to date in 2021, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20275/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine does not systematically collect the volume of sales figures as requested by the Deputy. However, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has such details on its website at the following link etc. report-on-sales-of-veterinary-antibiotics-in-ireland-during-2019.pdf (hpra.ie).
The HPRA collates data on antibiotic sales for the previous year provided to it by the marketing authorisation holders (MAHs) that market veterinary antibiotics. The most recent HPRA report relates to sales of veterinary antibiotics in Ireland in 2019. The sales figures for 2020 will not be available until Q4 2021 due to a lag period between sales occurring and reporting of sales data to the HPRA from MAHs. Likewise sales figures for 2021 will not be available until Q4 2022. Currently no data is available on sales of antibiotics broken down by type or by county. Sales are reported at a national level in terms of overall tonnage of active ingredient and by route of administration.
My Department is working to develop a National Secure Veterinary Prescription System which will provide more granular sector specific data to identify where the antibiotics are being prescribed in line with requirements of Regulation EU 2019/6.
2551. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the resources, such as the provision of registered foresters or ecologists, made available by his Department to public bodies to encourage their participation in the creation of woodland on public lands scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20278/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn August 2020, the Department launched the Creation of Woodland on Public Lands Scheme which aims at funding the creation of new native woodlands on publicly owned lands.
Further to the actions outlined in the Programme for Government, a land bank analysis to ascertain the availability of publicly owned lands that may be suitable for creating these new native woodlands was carried out by Climate Action Regional Office (CARO) in the Atlantic Seaboard South Region in partnership with my Department in late 2020.
A Working Group, comprising of the CARO in the Atlantic Seaboard South Region, officials from my Department, Teagasc, and representatives from Local Authorities across the country has also been set up in parallel. Department officials participating in the Working Group include Departmental foresters and ecology resources can be brought in when and where required. Registered foresters will be involved in assisting public bodies to submit any application to plant public lands.
The results of the land bank analysis are currently being assessed by this Working Group with a view to developing further guidance for public authorities for participation in the Scheme as well as agreeing on specific actions to promote the planting of native woodlands on public lands.
Further information on the Creation of Woodland on Public Lands Scheme, including a breakdown of Grants available, can be found at: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/4b0e6-creation-of-woodland-on-public-lands-scheme/.
2552. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has examined the reasons for the significant beef price differential between the Irish and UK markets recently; his plans to implement measures to address the relatively poor prices secured by Irish farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20279/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, prices for beef and other commodities are a commercial matter which I have no role in determining. They are a function of demand and supply, and a range of other cost factors, including currency relativities, along the supply chain. As the Deputy knows, they are not controlled by Government.
In line with a recommendation in the Beef Stakeholder Agreement reached in September, Bord Bia now publishes a detailed weekly "Beef Market Tracking" update which presents data on a range of indicators. This includes price comparisons, a comparison of Irish composite prices (for all product, and for prime cattle) with an 'export benchmark price', which reflects the relative importance of key markets for Irish beef, an index of wholesale and retail prices and a by-product market indicator.
As illustrated by the Bord Bia Market tracker, IE prices for prime cattle historically trend below those in the UK for a range of reasons including those outlined above. It should also be noted from the tracker data that IE prices continue to trend slightly above the EU average: https://www.bordbia.ie/farmers-growers/prices-markets/cattle-trade-prices/beef-market-tracking/
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 have also put in place funding of up to €6m over the next three years through Bord Bia, in order to develop and promote an Irish suckler beef proposition abroad. This is an initiative that I hope can support the sector.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department is constantly monitoring the market situation for all agricultural commodities including beef.
2553. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the intended number of participants in the new agri-environment scheme post the CAP transition period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20280/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is proposed that a new agri-environment scheme will be included in Ireland’s new CAP Strategic Plan. While the relevant CAP Strategic Plan Regulation has yet to be finalised, my Department is working on the design of a new agri-environment measure.
It is likely that eligibility for the new scheme will be similar to that for previous agri-environment climate measures such as the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS). The eventual level of uptake will depend on demand, which will be subject to a number of factors such as the range of actions offered, whether appropriate to or suitable for a farmer’s land and/or farming system, ease of implementation, and the associated payment rates.
At a national level, the numbers for approval into the scheme will be determined by the overall budgetary allocation to Ireland under the Common Agricultural Policy and the number and duration of interventions, and associated budgetary requirements, to be funded from that allocation.
As the regulations governing the implementation of the new CAP at Member State level are not yet finalised and interventions are currently being designed on a provisional basis until such time as relevant regulations agreed, the Deputy will appreciate that it is too early in the process to give an indication as to the likely uptake under the new agri-environment climate measure.
My clear intention is to deliver an Agri-Enviornmental scheme that is ambitious in terms of rewarding farmers financially while protecting the enviornment.
2561. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the advice for farmers participating in the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme regarding the use of weedkiller before they plant; his plans to phase out the use of weedkiller as part of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20500/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach measure in GLAS has specific requirements that need to be satisfied in line with the scheme documentation. The allowable use of pesticides is measure specific to each measure and outlined in the requirements for the relevant measures.
There are no plans to change the GLAS specification for the duration of the scheme and scheme participants should follow what is set out in the specifications. GLAS participants are required to meet the SMR requirements in this regard at all times.
2562. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Horse Racing Ireland and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board have oversight or responsibility for ensuring that trainers who operate their licences from stables adhere to local authority planning regulations and obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20525/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraHorse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) is the regulatory body for all horseracing in Ireland. The Board is a company limited by guarantee set up by the Turf Club and the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee for the purpose of carrying out the regulatory and licensing functions for Irish horseracing.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for HRI and the IHRB and I have requested my officials to refer the question to them for direct reply.
2563. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the system for the manual submission of documentation currently in place for farmers who are receiving pig slurry can be extended beyond the 1 July 2021 deadline given the new online process will be difficult for a large number of farmers in view of the fact they do not have the facilities or training to undertake the online submission process which will be in place after that date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20582/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Nitrates Regulations farmers are obliged to farm within the limit of 170 kgs of nitrogen per hectare (or 250kgs/N/ha for those who hold an approved derogation. One of the measures farmers can take to ensure compliance with this limit is to export slurry to another holding.
These movements must be declared to the Department on a paper form by 31st December annually, (or 31st October for derogation holders.). Submission was by e-mail or post. However many farmers incur penalties each year because they did not submit the Record 3 Form by the deadline of 31st December.
The new online system will help replace over 16,000 paper forms that have been submitted annually by farmers and bring a number of benefits. These include simplifying the system of reporting of movements and indeed more importantly also giving farmers access to more prompt information on their compliance with the stocking rate limits where they are exporting or importing manure. The system can be used by either farmers themselves or their agricultural adviser.
To facilitate the transition, the Department will accept both on-line declarations and paper forms until 1st July 2021,after which date use of the new on-line system will be mandatory. Additional support to aid the transition will be made available to farmers and advisors shortly.
To use the on-line system farmers must be registered to use the Department’s on-line portal www.agfood.ie. The vast majority of farmers are already registered to use the on-line portal for other DAFM schemes. A user manual for farmers and advisers is available on the Department’s website at this link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9563-rural-environment-sustainability-nitrates/#nitrates-records
Nitrates Section is at all times available to assist those who have any queries.
2564. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an appeal relating to the GLAS scheme in the name of persons (details supplied) has been concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20690/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that the Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department.
I have been informed that a decision issued by the Appeals Officer dealing with this appeal and, following the issuing of this decision, there was a request for a review of the Appeals Officer’s decision received from the appellant in February 2020.
Reviews of decisions of Appeals Officers can only be undertaken by the Director of the Appeals Office in accordance with the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001. I understand that a decision in this case will be issued in the coming days.
2565. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts his Department is making to achieve gender balance on all State boards and agencies under the remit of his Department; if he will set out the changes achieved to date on each; if 50% of the membership of all boards, policy groups or agencies that provide advice to Government on matters of policy will be reserved for appropriately qualified individuals from the private sector in order to achieve a balance between the public and private sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20719/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI attach a table which sets out the gender balance of the 12 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department.
I am committed to achieving the Government target of 40% gender balance on the Boards of State Bodies set out by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in 2014 and the table shows progress made so far.
In relation to six of the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, some of the board appointments are made by me on the basis of nominations from third-party organisations for specified vacancies as set out in legislation. These State Bodies are the Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board, Bord Bia, Horse Racing Ireland, National Milk Agency, Teagasc and the Veterinary Council of Ireland. I encourage the relevant nominating organisations to be pro-active in encouraging women within their membership to consider putting themselves forward for nomination for appointment to the Board of the State Body to which the organisation makes a nomination.
In 2019, my Department was a member of the Inter-Departmental Group on Gender Balance on State Boards, created with the aim of accelerating progress towards the target of 40% representation of each gender on all State boards. From this Group, a set of recommendations were published to address factors leading to gender imbalances in the membership of certain State Boards. These were taken into consideration in my Department’s Gender Balance Implementation Plan.
These actions include, but are not limited to; annual reporting on gender balance, outreach to promote awareness of potential Board vacancies, using the Public Appointments Service (PAS) website to advertise vacancies, encouraging the nomination of women for Board positions, highlighting the current gender composition of a Board when making submissions on an appointment and promoting a better gender balance culture.
The Department does not have a quota policy in place relating to applicants with backgrounds from the public and private sectors. Any person who believes they have the relevant skills and experience for an advertised position, may apply. PAS then oversees an evaluation process of all applicants and this process involves an independent expert.
