Written Answers Nos. 916-935
917. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of private dentists presently providing treatment under the dental treatment services scheme in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51323/21]
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.
918. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists employed by the local health office presently providing free dental treatment to adult medical card holders in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51324/21]
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.
919. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of adult medical card holders presently eligible for dental services under the dental treatment scheme in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51325/21]
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.
920. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50361/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for a Forest Road Works licence for the person named was approved on 11th October, 2021.
921. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments under the ANC scheme will be released to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50371/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for participation in the 2021 Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme was submitted by the person named on 25th February 2021.
To qualify for payments under the scheme, applicants must satisfy all relevant criteria as set out in the terms and conditions of the scheme.
As the person named has now satisfied all relevant criteria, the advance payment under the 2021 ANC scheme has issued to the nominated bank account of the person named.
922. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers on natura designated land, SACs and SPAs; the total hectarage of such land on which basic payments were paid in 2020 by county; the average holding size by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50412/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraNatura is made up of Special Protection Areas (SPAs), established under the EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC), and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), established under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). Responsibility for Natura lies with the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) in Ireland.
Natura agricultural lands form a significant part of the overall eligible agricultural area within Ireland's Land Parcel Identification System and are an important resource, not only in terms of agricultural production but also in terms of biodiversity.
While much of the Natura area is agricultural lands, a significant proportion is made up of non-agricultural areas such as marine habitats, foreshore etc.
Each year, the Department, accepts online applications from farmers for payments under a wide range of area-based schemes, for example Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), Greening, Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) etc. These claims are recorded within the Land Parcel Identification System. It is from these agricultural areas declared by farmers that the Department has drawn the information on with regard to Natura status.
The attached table gives details on the number of farmers claiming on an eligible agricultural parcel that is also Natura, along with the eligible Natura area per county. It also shows the average claim per county.
|
County |
Number of Farmers (Natura)1 |
Natura Area2 |
Average Claimed Area3 |
|
CARLOW |
366 |
3,584.26 |
9.79 |
|
CAVAN |
519 |
8,272.96 |
15.94 |
|
CLARE |
1582 |
34,506.93 |
21.81 |
|
CORK |
1961 |
32,969.99 |
16.81 |
|
DONEGAL |
2773 |
57,540.67 |
20.75 |
|
DUBLIN |
48 |
1,929.31 |
40.19 |
|
GALWAY |
3923 |
79,749.33 |
20.33 |
|
KERRY |
3174 |
103,884.99 |
32.73 |
|
KILDARE |
83 |
624.54 |
7.52 |
|
KILKENNY |
519 |
4,473.70 |
8.62 |
|
LAOIS |
506 |
5,666.99 |
11.20 |
|
LEITRIM |
646 |
14,547.32 |
22.52 |
|
LIMERICK |
1049 |
15,190.04 |
14.48 |
|
LONGFORD |
140 |
1,348.59 |
9.63 |
|
LOUTH |
190 |
2,934.65 |
15.45 |
|
MAYO |
3972 |
88,287.20 |
22.23 |
|
MEATH |
178 |
1,411.03 |
7.93 |
|
MONAGHAN |
73 |
878.90 |
12.04 |
|
OFFALY |
326 |
4,426.85 |
13.58 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
763 |
6,132.89 |
8.04 |
|
SLIGO |
932 |
19,922.95 |
21.38 |
|
TIPPERARY |
1136 |
19,773.76 |
17.41 |
|
WATERFORD |
439 |
10,184.26 |
23.20 |
|
WESTMEATH |
265 |
2,934.03 |
11.07 |
|
WEXFORD |
367 |
5,269.14 |
14.36 |
|
WICKLOW |
350 |
21,133.65 |
60.38 |
1. Number of farmers claiming on a parcel with an eligible area for payment purposes that is also Natura
2. Total Natura area that is also eligible for payment purposes.
3. Average claimed area of the farms by county
923. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 769 of 15 September 2021, if his attention has been drawn to an outbreak of ips typographus, spruce bark beetle, in the UK; the preventative measures in place regarding this risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50413/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials are keeping abreast of developments with plant health and forest health risks generally. The eight toothed spruce bark beetle Ips typographus was first detected in the UK (in Kent) at the end of 2018. Earlier this year, two breeding populations were identified in two woodlands in Kent following routine plant health surveillance activities. Subsequently in July, three further outbreaks were confirmed, also in Kent and East Sussex. Further surveillance and eradication measures are on-going.
My officials have maintained close contact with their counterparts in the UK in relation to any developments which has included a visit to the original outbreak site in Kent.
As the presence of the pest in England increases the level of risk of its introduction into Ireland, the Department has implemented additional risk-based surveys in Ireland to provide added assurance that the pest is not present or introduced. In addition, import controls are in place which restrict the importation of roundwood with bark from Great Britain.
Log imports are permitted if they originate from the officially recognised Pest Free Area (PFA) in the south west of Scotland and are accompanied by an Official Statement to attest to their origin.
924. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the costs currently associated with the Coillte leasing system for hunters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50424/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCoillte is operationally independent of my Department and the management of their forest estate is a matter for the company.
I have, therefore, forwarded this issue to Coillte for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
925. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when Coillte tendered for an IT solution to facilitate permit management for hunters and related services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50425/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCoillte is operationally independent of my Department and the management of their forest estate is a matter for the company.
I have, therefore, forwarded this issue to Coillte for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
926. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the delays in assigning a veterinary inspection for a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50447/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe approval of a premises using animal by products for activities including the production of petfood is governed by the EU Animal By-products Regulations (EC) No. 1069 of 2009 and Regulation (EU) No. 142 of 2011 which are given legal effect by the European Union (Animal By-Products) Regulations 2014 (SI No. 187 of 2014).
I can advise the Deputy that officials from a number of different Divisions within the Department have engaged fully with the company in question in order to bring their application for approval to operate as a petfood plant to a conclusion in a timely manner. I understand the company received their Certificate of Approval to operate on 21st August 2020 and have been in production since that date.
Department officials are not aware of any outstanding veterinary inspections in relation to the company. Inspections are carried out on risk basis across all Animal By-Product operators and, where possible, are carried out unannounced.
927. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Coillte is a commercial semi-State body and therefore must abide by the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies; if the board of Coillte is accountable to him as Minister in this regard and as agreed by the shareholder letter of expectation (details supplied); and if the State assets are being disposed of by Coillte, by sale or lease to third parties should they be by auction or competitive tender in an open and transparent manner according to the Code of Practice. [50655/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCoillte CGA was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988. The Department therefore has responsibility for the Corporate Governance oversight of the company in relation to each of the activities outlined in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, as they apply to Coillte, and takes that responsibility seriously. There are processes in place regarding corporate governance and these are kept under review.
In terms of the disposal of assets and access to assets by third parties, the Chairperson of Coillte affirmed by letter of 15th April, 2021 that disposal procedures in accordance with the Code of Practice were in place and operational during 2020.
That letter further confirmed that contracts in 2020 that exceeded the €150,000 threshold were either advertised or notified in advance to the Board. Coillte advise that it is only in exceptional cases that such contracts are not advertised, in which case they go to the Board for decision, and this in compliance with the Code.
928. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2021 area of natural constraints payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50673/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a late application to participate in the 2021 Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme on 9th July 2021. Following a successful appeal, I can confirm that the advance payment under the 2021 ANC scheme has issued to the nominated bank account of the person named.
929. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date in respect of the establishment of an independent agriculture appeals review panel in line with a commitment under the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50722/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Review of the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001 and operations at the Agriculture Appeals Office was completed in December 2017. The Review Committee included a recommendation that, where an appellant is not satisfied with the decision of an appeals officer, he or she can seek a review of that decision from an independent Agriculture Appeals Review Panel.
The Review Committee recommended the panel consist of an independent chairperson, the director of the Agriculture Appeals Office and additional members with technical and practical expertise.
The recommendation for an independent Agriculture Appeals Review Panel is a key priority for the current Government. The Programme for Government; Our Shared Future (2020) includes a commitment to “establish an Independent Agriculture Appeals Review Panel in legislation, as a priority, and ensure that the panel includes participants with practical knowledge and experience of farming”.
This and other recommendations contained in the Review will require a change to primary legislation prior to implementation.
Work is ongoing to implement this and other recommendations contained in the review report and I have met with both the Director and Deputy Director of the Agriculture Appeals Office in this regard and am scheduled to have a further meeting in the coming days. Their work on the entirety of the review recommendations has been extensive and has included recent consultations with relevant stakeholders including the farming representative bodies.
Recommendations contained in the Review Report that have already been put in place include the appointment of the Deputy Director, bespoke legal training for Appeals Officers and the holding of case conferences with Appeals Officers, engagement with the farm bodies involved in the Farmer’s Charter of Rights Monitoring Committee which took place again recently, and the holding of remote oral hearings.
Continuing this work is a top priority of mine.
930. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date in respect of the establishment of the new office of the national food ombudsman, regulator or equivalent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50723/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the establishment of an Office of National Food Ombudsman, or equivalent, is a key commitment in the Programme for Government, which states that the new Office will enforce the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive and will also have a role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland.
The Deputy will also be aware that, in April 2021, I signed Statutory Instrument No. 198 of 2021 to transpose the UTP Directive into Irish law directly as it stands, with effect from 1st July 2021. As an interim measure, I have established the UTP Enforcement Authority in my Department.
Once the primary legislation is finalised and the new office is established, it will then take over the enforcement powers for the UTP Regulations.
The Enforcement Authority has the powers to investigate complaints from suppliers including primary producers, carry out investigations on its own initiative and initiate legal proceedings for breaches of the UTPs, and will shortly be undertaking an awareness-raising campaign on the UTP Regulations and engaging with relevant stakeholders in the agricultural and food products supply chain.
Following the public consultation inviting views on what functions the new Office should deliver, and the information seminar that I hosted in June for stakeholders, which included a presentation by the former UK Groceries Code Adjudicator, the submissions received have been examined and the primary legislation required to establish the new Office is now being drafted.
I am fully committed to ensuring the Programme for Government commitment is implemented as quickly as possible to ensure we bring much-needed transparency to the sector. The Department is giving this matter priority. However, until the legislation is finalised, I am not in a position to say exactly when the new Office will be established.
931. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date in respect of proposals for the inclusion of the Irish poultry sector under the remit of an organisation (details supplied) which includes beef and sheep only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50724/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has been engaging with the poultry sector to make progress on this issue and has expressed its support in principle for the establishment of a health programme for the poultry sector delivered by the organisation mentioned. This would operate in partnership with the poultry sector and has excellent potential to improve the overall health of the national flock, as well as the standard of biosecurity on farms, thus reducing the risk of disease outbreaks.
The organisation's programmes operate on the public private partnership principle which would see funding from the poultry sector being matched by funding provided by the Department.
The Deputy will be aware that the Department currently provides a significant level of publicly-funded support to the poultry sector.
- The National Poultry Health Programme (PHP) for the detection of Avian Influenza, Mycoplasma and Salmonella.
- The EU Poultry Surveillance Scheme of testing for Avian Influenza .
- Surveillance carried out as part of the National Salmonella Control Programme
- The national passive surveillance system which requires mandatory disease reporting to DAFM.
- A fully funded independent farm biosecurity assessment, for broiler and layer farmers currently delivered under the TASAH programme.
- A fully funded National Residue Control Programme supporting market access for poultry products.
- Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) grant aid available up to 60% for eligible young farmers and 40% for all other farmers.
- Compensation measures in place for poultry farms depopulated as a result of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
932. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date in respect of the proposal for the establishment of a fund co-financed by industry and Government for the Irish poultry industry, similar to the Dutch animal health fund (details supplied) in order to improve disease control and mitigate financial impacts on Irish poultry farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50725/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is fully cognisant of the very significant financial burden imposed on flock owners in the case of a disease outbreak. My Officials have held several meetings with the Poultry Working Group, a representative group of the Poultry Industry, between March 2020 and July 2021. The objective of these meetings was to get a clear understanding of the PWG’s proposal.
My Officials have conducted a review of the feasibility of establishing a co-financed fund as well as an evaluation of the Dutch Animal Health Fund Model. It is clear that Ireland’s current disease aid framework already provides many of the benefits of the Dutch Animal Health Fund, and in contrast to the situation for Dutch poultry farmers, does so without the requirement for a levy to be paid by Irish poultry producers into a disease fund.
The Department’s review of the PWG proposal is in the final stages of completion. A central consideration is whether a ‘prevention is better than cure’ approach, a key component of the National Farmed Animal Health Strategy, is a more cost effective and a more responsible use of state funds as a support to industry.
My Officials have identified existing and additional measures which could be utilised to support the industry as much as possible to mitigate the risk of disease occurring in the first place. One example of such a measure is my Department’s commitment to co-finance an Animal Health Ireland Poultry Health Programme in a public/private partnership with the poultry sector.
The Department remains committed and fully engaged in providing a wide range of supportive measures in ensuring the industry can operate successfully in challenging circumstances.
933. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the situation in Rusheen, Lough Sheelin, County Westmeath in which a local resident and fisherman and others have been refused a mooring peg and the accompanying key to the barrier erected in recent years as Coillte officials report all pegs have been allocated despite many remaining vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50953/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCoillte is operationally independent of my Department and the management of their forest estate is a matter for the company.
I have, therefore, forwarded this issue to Coillte for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
934. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated amount spent by his Department on the procurement, purchase and rent of new office space; and the amount spent on the procurement, purchase and rent of office equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [51098/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraGenerally speaking, all issues in relation to leases for premises for Government Departments/Offices, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are a matter for the Office of Public Works (OPW). However, there are a limited number of locations where the Department leases premises and the rents in respect of these are listed below.
I wish to inform the Deputy that, in line with EU and national rules on open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement, the Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with relevant guidelines and legislation to deliver value for money. Public procurement regulations apply to expenditure on goods, services and capital projects - but not to rents.
The amount spent by the Department on the rent of office space; and the amount spent on the procurement, purchase and rent of office equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021 is set out below.
|
Year |
Office Space |
Office Equipment € |
|
2010 |
n/a |
2,778,197 |
|
2011 |
n/a |
1,867,379 |
|
2012 |
n/a |
1,379,013 |
|
2013 |
100,000 |
2,212,473 |
|
2014 |
100,000 |
4,511,537 |
|
2015 |
106,000 |
4,722,177 |
|
2016 |
115,149 |
2,261,957 |
|
2017 |
115,247 |
4,447,372 |
|
2018 |
115,518 |
4,587,738 |
|
2019 |
115,788 |
4,675,253 |
|
2020 |
114,959 |
3,958,529 |
|
2021 to date |
119,755 |
3,068,893 |
935. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of offices currently being rented or in ownership of his Department which are currently not in use by the Department. [51115/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn general, all issues in relation to rental and ownership of offices for Government Departments/ Offices, including my Department, are a matter for the Office of Public Works. I can confirm that my Department does not have any offices currently not in use.
