Written Answers Nos. 756-778
756. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications for approval under the ash reconstitution and underplanting scheme that have been received in each of the three forest service districts covering County Cork; the number of these applications that have been approved in each district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47887/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date, my Department has received 34 applications for the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS – Ash dieback) for Co. Cork, ten of which have been approved. The remaining applications are either assigned to my Department’s Archaeology or Ecology Units or are awaiting responses to follow-up queries with the applicant. None are currently assigned to a Forestry District Inspector and it is not possible to give a breakdown of the applications within the three districts in Co. Cork.
757. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications for forest road approvals under the single consent system that have been received in each of the three forest service districts covering County Cork since the beginning of 2020; the number of approvals issued in each district for this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47888/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra758. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications for forest road grants have been received in each of the three forest service districts covering County Cork since the beginning of 2020; the percentage of these that resulted in a remedial letter issuing in each district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47889/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 757 and 758 together.
Since January 2020, 39 single consent applications for Forest Road Works Licences have been received by my Department for Co. Cork. Of those, 11 have been approved (with one refusal). The remaining applications are either assigned to my Department’s Archaeology or Ecology Units or are awaiting responses to follow-up queries with the applicant. None are currently assigned to a Forestry District Inspector.
39 applications for forest road grants have been paid in the same timeframe for Co. Cork. A further 13 such applications for payment have been received and are being processed for payment. Of these, seven are held for remedial action. It is not possible to give a breakdown of the applications within the three districts in Co. Cork.
759. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of programme for Government commitments (details supplied); if they have been completed; if not, the timeline on their progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48010/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 are not yet complete and consultations with stakeholders are continuing. The EU proposals for the new CAP from 2023 include provision for supports for generational renewal. With regard to direct payment supports under the next CAP, my Department proposes to operate a National Reserve under the new CAP from 2023 to prioritise access to payment entitlements for the categories of young farmers and new farmers. My Department also proposes to operate the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers from 2023 which will build on the success of the Young Farmers Scheme in place since 2015. Both schemes under the new CAP will require beneficiaries to hold a recognised agricultural educational qualification.
With regard to supports for young farmers under Pillar II of the new CAP, the proposed new On-Farm Investment Scheme under the Cap Strategic Plan will address key environmental objectives through the provision of grant aid for new capital investments that contribute to environmental, farm safety or animal health and welfare objectives. It is being proposed to provide a higher payment to qualified Young Farmers. Grant aid at rates between 40 to 60 % are being proposed.
Government will continue to complement measures under the new CAP with national support to facilitate generational renewal through measures such as Land Mobility/Long Term Leasing Tax Relief, other agri-taxation measures and Succession Farm Partnerships. Taken together, the combination of EU and national supports for generational renewal is significant and the complementary nature of this dual approach aligns with an EU report published in April 2021 which stated that Member States that followed a strategic, coherent and integrated approach where national measures were complementary to CAP support were more likely to achieve a positive impact.
The outline of any schemes supported under the next CAP and details of the Terms and Conditions for eligibility under such schemes will be set out once Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan is completed and approved.
760. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to a settlement between a State agency (details supplied) and the Revenue Commissioners; if there are any agencies under his Department’s remit that have had a similar issue or have made a settlement with the Revenue Commissioners in relation to any issue in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48017/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is assumed that the information sought by the Deputy relates to a settlement between the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Revenue Commissioners which arose from a voluntary disclosure by the SFPA. The matter was in relation to an underpayment of tax arising on the BIK treatment of state vehicles. The settlement has been disclosed in SFPA's financial statements and annual report(s) in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Following consultation by this Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the SFPA received sanction in October 2019 to move to a Civil Service based mileage model and the retention of a limited number only of officially logoed utility vehicles. At present, the SFPA maintains and owns a small fleet of utility vehicles (currently 8) in support of its role as a fisheries and food safety enforcement agency. These vehicles are treated as “pool” vehicles and are provided solely in support of the SFPA’s role.
Information concerning the remaining eleven State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves, and I have referred the question to them for direct reply.
761. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is liaising with the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the matter of critical skills permits for dairy farm workers; if his Department will be recommending additional critical skills permits for dairy farm workers under the current review due to the shortage of such workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48043/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials have regular engagement with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, who have primary responsibility for economic migration policy and employment permits. Their position is that employment permits are a last resort for addressing shortages of labour. While the pilot employment permit scheme introduced in 2018 for some sections of the agri-food sector, including dairy farm operatives, was an important tool for filling labour shortages, there is a high threshold of evidence required to remove any occupation from the ineligible list for employment permits. However my officials will continue to liaise with agriculture stakeholders in this regard.
In the first instance, employers are advised to engage with the services of the Department of Social Protection, namely Intreo and EURES, as there remain large numbers of unemployed both in Ireland and across Europe. In addition, the People in Dairy Action Plan (www.teagasc.ie/publications/2018/people-in-dairy-action-plan.php) contained six key action areas designed to address attraction and retention of labour and skills on dairy farms and Teagasc continues to play a key role in its implementation.
762. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of increasing the State aid limit for young farmer relief from €70,000 to €140,000 in bands of €10,000, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48056/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI want to reassure the Deputy that I am committed to supporting young farmers. The European Commission has exclusive competence to decide on the compatibility of State aid with the internal market. Certain categories of aid are deemed compatible, with those for the agricultural sector set out in the Agriculture Block Exemption Regulation (ABER) EU 702/2014. Article 18 of the ABER provides for start-up aid for young farmers up to a threshold of €70,000 per young farmer. In line with the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) programming period 2023-2027, the ABER will shortly be subject to review.
The latest data published by Revenue shows that 1,128 "Young Trained Farmers" claimed stamp duty exemption relief in 2019, at a cost of €14.6 million; 1,056 at a cost of €16.8 million in 2018; with 845 at a cost of €7.8 million in 2017. Not all of these will have reached the €70,000 threshold. However, assuming that this is the cost being referred to, if all of the applicants in 2019 availed of an increased threshold (which is currently not permitted under EU State aid regulations), the cost would be as set out in table below:
|
Increased Threshold to: |
Cost € |
|
€80,000 |
€11,280,000 |
|
€90,000 |
€22,560,000 |
|
€100,000 |
€33,840,000 |
|
€110,000 |
€45,120,000 |
|
€120,000 |
€56,400,000 |
|
€130,000 |
€67,680,000 |
|
€140,000 |
€78,960,000 |
With the current rate of stamp duty at 7.5%, each €10,000 increase would equate to €133,333 in the value of property transferred or bought.
763. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the heading and sub-headings in the Revised Estimates which regard the allocation of funding for farm safety; the purpose of each allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48101/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere has been a significant level of funding on farm safety by my Department under a number of subheads as follows:
- Subhead C.11.10 - €250,000 for farm advisor Continuous Professional Development training on five dedicated topics, one of which is Farm Safety.
- Subhead B.3.9 - €1.8m for dedicated European Innovation Partnership Farm Safety projects - 8 projects to the value of €1.8m awarded.
- Subhead B.3.7 - €18,909 additional funding for farm safety for the final phase of On Feirm Ground and for the National Farmers Health Alliance Showcase.
- Administration Subhead (iii) - Training and Development and Incidental expenses - €90,000 funding for a joint advertising campaign with the HSA on farm safety.
- Subheads B.3.9 and B.5.1 - €47.7m Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS II) funding has been paid out to date in 2021. It is a requirement that all farmers applying for grant-aid under the TAMS II schemes complete a half-day course on farm safety. This requirement has been met in respect of approximately 19,000 applications for payment under TAMS II.
There are approximately 50 farm safety investment items available under the suite of seven measures available under TAMS II.
Additionally, TAMS II funds are spent on animal housing under the Animal Welfare Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme. Health and Safety guidelines are included in all ‘Building Specifications,’ drawn up by my Department for the construction of agricultural buildings and structures. The construction of new buildings also provides for a safer working environment and could be deemed to be safety related investments.
764. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of young farmers that have not had their business plans approved by Teagasc with regard to applying for young trained farmer stamp relief duty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48103/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 81AA of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 provides for a stamp duty exemption on the transfer of agricultural land to ‘young trained farmers’. It is covered for State aid purposes under Article 18 of the Agriculture Block Exemption Regulation (ABER) 702/2014, which requires that aid is conditional on the submission of a business plan to the competent authority of the Member State concerned.
In Ireland, Teagasc is responsible for certifying business plans. I understand that, while Teagasc maintain a register of business plans for which a certificate has been issued, they do not record submissions that are not subsequently approved. In 2020, Teagasc approved 602 business plans, with 483 plans approved to date in 2021.
765. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated amount expended in the TAMS scheme for low-emission slurry spreading technology for each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the resulting amount paid by farmers; the number of farmers; the VAT paid by farmers in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48104/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraLow emission Slurry Spreading equipment has been a very popular investment item under TAMS II. Details of the eligible costs and grant payments made for LESS equipment under the Low Emission Slurry Spreading Scheme (LESS), Organic Capital Investment Scheme (OCIS) and the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS) on an annual basis are set out in the table below:
|
Year Paid |
No. of Farmers |
Eligible Costs |
Grant Amount |
|
2016 |
52 |
€1,430,886.33 |
€637,586.20 |
|
2017 |
263 |
€7,734,603.45 |
€3,480,765.77 |
|
2018 |
461 |
€13,939,209.56 |
€6,447,012.54 |
|
2019 |
753 |
€21,281,870.72 |
€9,575,357.98 |
|
2020 |
1,397 |
€33,188,185.76 |
€15,093,357.67 |
|
2021 (to date) |
1,232 |
€26,899,334.95 |
€11,974,799.12 |
|
Total |
4,158 |
€104,474,090.77 |
€47,208,879.28 |
Please note that TAMS does not record the amount of VAT paid by farmers. Eligible costs in the table refer to the lower of the fixed Department reference cost and the receipted costs of the claim made by the applicant. The grant amount is that paid to the applicant for that purchase.
766. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has a target with regard to the growth of biogas or solar usage amongst farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48105/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnergy policy formation, is the direct responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC). The Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM) does however continuously engage with DECC on all energy related matters from an agricultural perspective, as well as a wide range of industry and other stakeholder groupings.
While it is not within the remit of my Department to set energy specific targets for the agricultural sector- renewable technology usage, such as Solar PV, is further supported through the provision of grant aid under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II). This scheme continues to support our farmers in maximising their contribution to the production of renewable energy through the installation of mainly roof-top Solar PV technology along with battery storage on Irish farms across the country.
DAFM continues to directly support research, development and demonstration in the area of renewable technology in a number of sector specific beneficial ways.
With direct reference to biogas, DAFM, supports two projects of particular importance which have received part-funding from this Department through the European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) initiative, as part of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The Bio-refinery Glas (small scale farmer-led green bio-refineries) and Irish Bio-energy Association (IrBEA) (small biogas demonstration programme) have both been awarded funding of over €900,000 each and upon completion will provide valuable information of specific relevance to Irish farmers.
Engagement with interested stakeholders, including farmers and farm organisations has been further strengthened through the current DECC-led public consultation on the Introduction of a Renewable Heat Obligation which will further enhance the demand and consequent feasibility of the developing Biogas industry in Ireland.
767. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider changing the criteria of appeal regarding ANC payments for persons who ticked the wrong box and made a clerical error online but whose difficulties have not been rectified through the appeals process which is only of benefit if farmers were ill or incapacitated at the time but not to those who made a simple error while using the online system; his views on the fact that many farmers have made such errors since they were forced to do the applications online in 2018 such as persons (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the number of farmers who met the stocking density but who were not paid more than doubled from 109 in 2018 to 239 in 2019; if his attention has been further drawn to the hardship that this lack of payment caused; his further views on whether the current inability of his Department to put in systems to address this problem is a serious administrative flaw; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48109/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme is an EU co-funded scheme and is governed by the relevant EU Regulations. Those regulations require that to participate in the scheme, an application to participate in the scheme must be made when completing an application for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) via the single application system available on the Department's on-line facility, www.agfood.ie, by the relevant closing date.
The EU regulations set out the criteria against which appeals may be considered by the Department under the grounds of Force Majeure and Exceptional Circumstances and these criteria must be applied by my Department in accordance with the regulations.
The appeals process allows for both an appeal to officials of the Department, and the option of a further appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office should an applicant not be satisfied with the decision of the Department and this option was availed of by both of the persons named. This office is an independent office established to provide farmers with an appeals service to farmers who are dissatisfied with decisions made by the Department concerning designated schemes operated by the Department.
My Department has continuously sought to improve and refine the application systems in place to ensure that the application process for all schemes administered by my Department are as simple as possible and that assistance is available for applicants when submitting their application.
The application process for the Basic Payment Scheme requires applicants to confirm if they wish to apply for the ANC scheme or not by selecting one of two options “I want to apply for ANC” or “I do not want to apply for ANC”. The system will not allow an applicant for the BPS to progress past this point until they select one of these two options.
Where an applicant has selected “I do not want to apply for ANC” and had received payment under the scheme in the previous scheme year, they will be prompted with a message on screen to warn them that they had received payment under the scheme in the previous scheme year but have not applied in the current scheme year. They are advised that if they are eligible under the scheme and wish to apply they should select “I want to apply for ANC”. They are also advised that if they do not want to apply, they should select “I do not want to apply for ANC” to continue their BPS application.
For applications under the 2021 Scheme, my Department issued a Brief Guide to the 2021 Areas of Natural Constraints scheme to eligible 2020 scheme applicants. This guide included a section detailing how to apply for the 2021 scheme, including screen shots of the application process to aid people in submitting their application.
My Department has also made every effort to open the online application process at the earliest possible opportunity to provide applicants with as much time as possible to prepare and submit their ANC applications, or to make arrangements to seek assistance in submitting their application, such as using the services of an Agricultural Advisor to assist in the submission of their application.
For 2021, the application facility opened on the 18th of February 2021. The deadline for receipt of applications under the 2021 scheme was the 17th of May 2021.
My Department also operates a direct payments telephone helpdesk which applicants can contact for assistance in submitting their ANC application. Over the last number of years, the helpdesk has operated extended opening hours in advance of the closing date for submission of BPS/ANC applications.
In advance of the 2021 application deadline the helpdesk was open between 9.15am and 9.00pm from Monday 10th May to Friday 14th May, from 9.30am to 5.00pm on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th May and between 9.15am and 12 midnight on 17th May.
Between the years 2018 and 2020, the number of eligible applications under the ANC scheme increased from 103,393 to 104,790. The number of applicants paid under the scheme also increased from 95,802 applicants paid under the 2018 scheme to 99,588 currently paid under the 2019 scheme. The value of payments also increased between 2018 and 2019 from €229.3m in 2018 to €248m in 2019.
Currently a total of 98,800 applicants have been paid a total of €247m under the 2020 ANC scheme. My Department continues to carry out weekly payment runs in relation to the 2020 scheme year in order to issue payment to additional cases that become clear for payment. The number of farmers not receiving ANC payments for reasons other than stocking density remains low as a percentage of eligible applicants.
768. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cattle removed from the national herd arising from the beef exceptional aid measure by replacement index rating, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48110/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) was to provide temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland subject to the conditions set out in EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132. This aid was granted to provide temporary market adjustment support in response to a specific market disturbance as outlined in Ireland's notification to the EU Commission and the 5% reduction was part of the conditionality sought by the EU.
Total payments under BEAM were c. €77 million with just over 33,000 participants joining the scheme. In doing so, they gave a commitment to reduce the production of bovine livestock manure nitrogen on the holding by 5% for the period 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021 as compared with the reference period of 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019 as recorded on the Department's AIM system.
Farmers could meet the 5% Nitrates reduction requirement through a variety of means including selling cattle as normal, selling cattle earlier that they might typically do, buying in cattle later and/or buying in younger cattle than they might normally do. There was no explicit requirement in the scheme that cattle had to be slaughtered to meet the 5% bovine nitrates reduction requirement.
769. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 778 of 15 September 2021, if his attention has been drawn to an interruption to the service provided to the mart referred to in 2021; the cause of the service interruption; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that farmers have been unable to sell cattle as a result and have incurred costs due to the need to retest livestock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48111/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department continues to offer the full range of export services to the mart referred to by the Deputy. The export service includes verification of animal identity by Department technical staff, the movement of animals for export in accordance with the Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) System and attendance by veterinary inspectors to inspect and certify matters in relation to export.
770. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of suckler cattle by county as of 5 October 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48112/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe latest numbers available are for the end of June, a breakdown of these figures by county has been requested and will be sent to the Deputy when received. Figures for the end of September will be available from the end of October.
771. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of veterinary practices in Ireland; the number of veterinary practices which have transferred into corporate ownership in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48113/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) is the Statutory Body established under the Veterinary Practice Act 2005. The principal function of the Council is to regulate and manage the practice of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing in the State in the public interest. There are currently 775 veterinary practice premises in Ireland.
The Veterinary Practice Act 2005, as amended does not speak to the ownership of veterinary practices. Accordingly, the Veterinary Council has no legal basis to request or hold information in relation to the ownership of veterinary practices.
In order for any veterinary practice premises to operate in Ireland, a VCI registered person (Veterinary Practitioner) must apply for a Certificate of Suitability granted by the Veterinary Council.
772. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he plans to engage with farmers that are engaged with forestry with regard to the ownership of carbon credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48114/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the agreed Effort Sharing and LULUCF regulations, EU Member States must account for emissions and removals of greenhouse gases from the land-use, land use change and forestry sector during the 2021 to 2030 period. This does not necessarily imply ownership , but simply reflects the requirement for those reductions or emissions to be counted in the State’s inventory.
Those regulations do not create an accounting framework for private individuals or companies, nor do they create a private market for forest carbon credits or debits.
There are precedents developed by private operators in some other countries, for forest owners and organisations to pursue voluntary initiatives in the trading of carbon and other corporate social responsibility mechanisms, as long as they do not impact on the State’s reporting and accounting obligations.
In Ireland my Department directly funds afforestation by providing a range of grants, premiums and tax incentives on the sale of timber. It may be possible to develop a carbon farming framework in parallel with this system to encourage reductions in emissions and develop a potential alternative source of income for landowners and foresters. My Department will be exploring the potential for this in consultation with relevant stakeholders. It is also noted that carbon farming is highlighted as an option in the EU Green Deal and the European Commission is examining ways of encouraging activities that remove carbon across sectors.
773. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the prevalence of liver abscesses in cattle by county or smallest available geographic unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48115/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is provided below. This data was captured by the AHI Beef HealthCheck programme on liver abscesses at slaughter in cattle at 17 factories participating in the programme. This would account for between 50-60% of the national kill. Data has been collected from 2016 to date and includes beef and dairy animals of all ages. Data for the 2021 year is partial to August.
|
County |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021* |
|
CARLOW |
5.7 |
4.4 |
3.1 |
4.7 |
4.3 |
4.8 |
|
CAVAN |
3.1 |
3.7 |
2.2 |
3.1 |
3.3 |
3.6 |
|
CLARE |
3.8 |
3.5 |
2.2 |
3.0 |
2.9 |
2.7 |
|
CORK |
5.1 |
5.4 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
4.7 |
4.3 |
|
DONEGAL |
2.2 |
1.9 |
1.7 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
1.4 |
|
DUBLIN |
2.6 |
3.9 |
2.9 |
3.1 |
3.5 |
4.0 |
|
GALWAY |
3.6 |
2.8 |
2.4 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
|
KERRY |
3.9 |
3.6 |
2.4 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
3.3 |
|
KILDARE |
4.5 |
4.0 |
2.5 |
3.3 |
4.1 |
3.8 |
|
KILKENNY |
4.0 |
3.7 |
3.2 |
3.8 |
4.6 |
4.5 |
|
LAOIS |
5.1 |
4.9 |
3.7 |
3.8 |
4.7 |
4.0 |
|
LEITRIM |
2.2 |
2.1 |
2.4 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
1.9 |
|
LIMERICK |
4.4 |
3.9 |
2.9 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
3.9 |
|
LONGFORD |
4.0 |
3.6 |
3.2 |
2.7 |
3.8 |
3.4 |
|
LOUTH |
4.6 |
4.3 |
3.6 |
3.4 |
3.9 |
3.7 |
|
MAYO |
2.1 |
2.3 |
1.5 |
1.9 |
1.6 |
1.3 |
|
MEATH |
4.1 |
4.1 |
3.1 |
4.2 |
4.2 |
3.9 |
|
MONAGHAN |
3.3 |
4.3 |
3.5 |
4.1 |
4.4 |
3.6 |
|
OFFALY |
4.6 |
3.8 |
2.9 |
3.5 |
3.7 |
3.2 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
3.5 |
3.7 |
2.9 |
2.4 |
2.6 |
2.1 |
|
SLIGO |
2.7 |
2.3 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
1.9 |
1.2 |
|
TIPPERARY |
4.4 |
4.1 |
3.4 |
3.8 |
4.5 |
4.6 |
|
WATERFORD |
3.9 |
3.9 |
3.0 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
|
WESTMEATH |
3.9 |
3.4 |
2.7 |
3.2 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
|
WEXFORD |
5.6 |
3.9 |
2.5 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
4.5 |
|
WICKLOW |
5.2 |
4.1 |
3.1 |
3.9 |
4.7 |
4.4 |
|
TOTAL |
4.2 |
4.1 |
3.2 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
3.8 |
Table: Percentage of liver abscesses in cattle per county of slaughter as part of the Beef HealthCheck programme (*2021 partial data to August)
774. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of controlled finishing units by county or smallest available geographic unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48116/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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)”. 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.
The number of CFUs nationally for 2021 to date is 356. Due to the small number of CFUs in some counties, DAFM cannot provide a county-level breakdown for GDPR reasons.
775. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farm partnerships; the number which name a woman as part of the partnership; the number of new farm partnerships registered since 2016; the number registered since 2016 on which a woman is a named partner, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48117/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegistered Farm Partnerships involve the coming together of two or more farmers to operate the farm business as a single entity. Partnerships have a number of benefits for participants. They improve scale and efficiency of agricultural production by encouraging the consolidation of blocks of land held and operated by farmers not within the same family.
They also encourage new skills and specialisation through the required enhanced educational qualifications of the partners and offer a better work-life balance. In addition, they contribute to improving the age structure of Irish agriculture as the creation of a Registered Farm Partnership often allows parents and children to commence the process of inter-generational farm transfer.
Currently, there are 3,362 active Registered Farm Partnerships (RFPs) with 1,441 of these having at least one female partner. Since 2016, 2,584 new RFPs have been established, of which 1,127 have a female partner.
776. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cases that have been raised with the unfair trading practices unit within his Department; the current status or resolution of those cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48118/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra777. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a head of unit will be appointed to the unfair trading practices unit within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48119/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra778. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expenditure that has arisen from the unfair trading practices unit within his Department to date in 2021; the items the spending related to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48120/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra779. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expenditure that has arisen from promoting, marketing or educating producers on the unfair trading practices unit within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48121/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 776 to 779, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware, one of the key principles of the Directive on Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) in business-to-business relationships in the agricultural and food supply chain is to protect farmers, farmers’ organisations and other weaker suppliers of agricultural and food products against stronger buyers and to improve their position in the supply chain.
I signed Statutory Instrument No. 198 of 2021 transposing the UTP Directive into Regulations applicable to Irish law on 28th April 2021, ahead of the EU deadline of 1st May 2021. These Regulations are an important tool in strengthening the position of primary producers, who are key to the success of our sector.
The Regulations provide for the establishment of an Enforcement Authority to deal with complaints against unfair trading practices and, as an interim measure, I established the Enforcement Authority in my Department pending the finalisation of primary legislation to establish a new Office of National Food Ombudsman or Regulator.
The Enforcement Authority has the power to investigate complaints made by agricultural and food product suppliers. The Authority may also initiate and conduct investigations on its own initiative and initiate legal proceedings for breaches of the UTPs.
The Authority currently has two full-time staff members, including a head of unit, and further staff resources will be allocated to it shortly. Work is ongoing to develop a communications and awareness-raising campaign which will commence shortly. No complaints have yet been received nor has the Authority initiated any investigations at this stage. The Authority has not incurred any expenditure other than salary costs to-date.
I am fully committed to bringing forward legislation at an early date to establish a National Food Ombudsman or Regulator office that will bring greater levels of transparency to the sector.
