Written Answers Nos. 851-869
851. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of efforts to provide protected geographical indication status for natural Irish beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4729/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) emphasises the relationship between the specific geographic region and the name of the product, where a particular quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable to its geographical origin. European Commission rules for PGIs require products to be produced in accordance with a technical specification that meets the EU requirements. Producer applications are required to meet that specification. This is in addition to the legal requirements applying to food production in EU Member States. My Department, as Competent Authority for PGIs, is required to scrutinize applications received to ensure their compliance with the EU rules.
The PGI application for "Natural Irish Beef" as referred to by the Deputy, was submitted to my Department on 14 September 2020 by the applicant group.
My officials examined the draft documentation submitted and engaged with the applicant's representative on a regular basis between November 2020 and March 2021. This included several meetings to discuss the documentation and revisions to the Product Specification received from the applicant's representative as well as my Department's queries.
Following a meeting in early March 2021, the applicant’s representative undertook to provide an updated Product Specification in advance of the next planned meeting. As the document was not provided, the applicant’s representative was advised that a further meeting would be scheduled when the applicant’s representative had provided the updated Product Specification.
To date, no such document has been received, nor has the applicant’s representative made contact with my officials.
852. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of efforts to register Achill Island sea salt as a protected designation of origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4730/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) emphasises the relationship between the specific geographic region and the name of the product, where a particular quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable to its geographical origin. GI status requires products to be produced in accordance with a particular technical specification and producers are required to meet that specification. This is in addition to the legal requirements applying to food production in EU Member States.
The PGI application for “Achill Island Sea Salt” was submitted to the EU Commission in November 2020.
As part of its detailed scrutiny of the application, the European Commission raised a number of queries with my Department in April 2021 which, in consultation with the applicant’s representative, are still being examined.
If the queries received can be addressed to the Commission’s satisfaction, the next stage of the process will be publication of an EU opposition procedure which is a consultation process allowing interested parties from other EU Member States or third countries.
The Department will continue to engage with the applicant and the European Commission on this application with a view to finalizing the details.
853. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts for which a commencement order has yet to be signed in his Department; the reason for the delay; when commencement orders will be signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4754/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is set out in the attached table.
PQ 4754/22
|
Title of Act/Legislation |
Section/Provision of Act Awaiting Commencement |
Reason for delay in commencement |
Expected date commencement order will be signed |
|
Greyhound Racing Act 2019 |
Sections 7, 9, 10 20 to 29 |
The commencement of these sections is dependent on the appointment of new members to the Board of Rásaíocht Con Éireann and to the Control and Appeal Committees. These appointments are made through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) which takes some time. |
2022 |
|
Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013 |
Part 12 of Act of 2013 |
Livestock marts are now regulated and licensed under SI 128/2018 and this part of the 2013 Act is not required for the effective regulation of marts |
N/A, this part is expected to be repealed during 2022 |
854. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will engage with Coillte on the need to erect proper stockproof sheep fencing on its lands at Derryclare, Connemara, County Galway; if Coillte has a legal responsibility to keep its boundaries in good order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4847/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCoillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and, as such, is operationally independent from my Department. I have therefore referred the matter to Coillte for direct follow-up with the Deputy.
855. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the results of the exploration of pathways to encourage earlier finishing of beef animals as per action 315 of the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4891/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in the Climate Action Plan, the main way I can reduce methane emissions from a pasture-based beef production system in the medium term is to transition the beef system to a system of earlier finishing of animals. Currently prime beef cattle are slaughtered at an average of 27 months and this can be reduced to an average of 24 months over the course of the decade.
This will require support for breeding improvements but also a critical engagement by the beef processing sector to encourage and support farmers to finish their animals earlier and my Department will continue to engage with stakeholders on this important matter. In addition, officials are currently working with the EPA to ensure that any progress is correctly accounted for in the GHG inventory.
It is intended to continue with a breeding programme in the next CAP which will build on the gains of both the Beef Data Genomics Programme (BDGP) and the BEEP schemes and help realise the additional gains identified by Teagasc and ICBF. The proposed Suckler Carbon Efficiency Scheme (SCES) will build on significant investments made to date under the Beef Data Genomics Programme (BDGP).
Breeding programmes like the BDGP and the proposed SCEP will continue to play a crucial role in supporting breeding decisions which can help farmers to produce an animal of the required weight at a younger age, so that the improvements are fully reflected in the inventory.
856. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average age of beef cattle slaughtered by quarter and by year in each of the years 2010 to date in tabular form. [4892/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraComprehensive information on the age profile of cattle slaughtered annually since 2010 , with a monthly breakdown, is available on the AIM Bovine Statistics annual report published on my Departments website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/d5dc1-aim-bovine-statistics-reports/
Quarterly average figures, which can be derived from this report, are currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy's office once available.
857. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farms on which poultry was culled arising from recent outbreak of bird flu by county; if compensation has been paid to the farmers affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4893/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere were six Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 outbreaks in 2021, all of the flocks have been depopulated:
The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 provides that I, as Minister, may pay compensation to owners of animals if a cull of those animals is directed by my Department in the event of an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
The compensation may relate to the animal that is culled, or to an animal product, animal feed or similar item that is destroyed in relation to the outbreak. The compensation may not exceed the open market value of the animal or item.
Compensation is payable only to the owner of the animals or items affected. Consequential losses are not compensated for.
In November 2021, my Department developed valuation tables relating to the most common species and types of poultry in Ireland. This work was based on expert advice and input.
These tables are used to quickly and consistently determine compensation payable in the case of an outbreak of poultry disease that necessitates a cull. Since 2017, the valuation tables have been updated twice yearly.
To date, the Department has received seven applications for compensation for animals culled, animal products, animal feed or similar item that was destroyed in these 2021 outbreaks. The Department has issued offers of compensation based on independent valuation to six farmers to date. The other case is currently being processed. Five have been accepted so far and the payments are being processed.
858. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the reported kill numbers at European Union approved slaughter plants originating in controlled finishing units represent exact or estimated figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4896/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraControlled Finishing Units (CFUs) as part of the bovine TB Eradication Programme are subject to enhanced biosecurity measures and can only sell direct to slaughter.
The kill number figures at European Union approved slaughter plants originating in Controlled Finishing Units are rounded to the nearest 500 because the figure is a dynamic figure and changes from week to week as herds move in and out of the Controlled Finishing Unit protocol. Therefore, these figures are as accurate as possible. The figures are extracted from my Department's online Animal Identification and Movement system (AIM).
Data in respect of animals from CFUs slaughtered, as well as other data, are published and regularly updated on my Department's section of the gov.ie website. See the link below for the current figures available.
www.gov.ie/en/collection/f55f2-bovine-birth-and-movements-monthly-reports/#kill-numbers-at-eu-approved-slaughter-plants-originating-in-controlled-finishing-units
859. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will respond to the escalation and high price of fertiliser which is having a major impact on farming families. [5069/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe very significant rise in fertiliser prices in the last year and particularly in recent months, is particularly concerning. I am closely monitoring the situation.
In October 2021, I requested Teagasc to lay out a credible roadmap to assist farmers in the short-term, as well as offering a longterm solution in the move to reduce dependency on chemical fertiliser. I was delighted to be able to launch the Soils, Nutrients and Fertiliser Campaign at Teagasc Ballyhaise on the 26th January.
In addition, at the November Agriculture and Fisheries Council, I raised the increasing challenge faced by farmers due to the rising costs of inputs. I called on the EU Commission to consider all options to ease the pressure on farmers at this time, including the question of whether the imposition of anti-dumping duties on fertiliser imports continues to be appropriate and for this matter to be examined as a priority.
Following the November meeting, I wrote to the EU Commissioner Wojciechowski requesting that the Commissions assessment of the ongoing appropriateness of anti-dumping duties on fertilisers is completed as a matter of priority. I also wrote to the Commissioner asking him to finalise the Commission’s examination of the duties. The EU Commission responded, on 26th January, that they are still collecting information to establish the relevant facts.
In the meantime, Teagasc will continue to work with farmers through the Soils, Nutrients and Fertiliser campaign to help farmers to adapt to the current fertiliser market and support them to make informed decisions on what is best for them and their farms.
The impact of rising fertiliser prices on the competitiveness of the farming sector will continue to be a priority for my Department and is being closely monitored by my officials.
860. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there will be a recruitment campaign for technical agricultural officers in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5070/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent Technical Agricultural Officer (TAO) recruitment campaign was advertised on 24th July 2020 by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Department.
A significant number of appointments have been made from the panels created for each county and it is envisaged that those panels will continue to give rise to further appointments throughout much of 2022.
While there are no immediate plans for a new TAO recruitment campaign, it is likely that a new campaign will be organised towards the end of 2022 or early 2023.
861. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial supports that are available for agricultural producer organisations established in the past year; and the way these can be drawn down by such organisations. [5163/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU’s Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organisation scheme offers recognised Producer Organisations in the fruit and vegetable sectors (not potatoes) to claim 50% aid from the EU for pre-approved Operational Programmes up to a value of 4.1% of the Value of their Marketed Product. Such aid is paid retrospectively and after claims have been checked and verified by my Department.
Recognised Producer Organisations in the Beef sector can avail of support for the engagement of Department approved facilitators for the provision of advisory services to support their application for recognition. Support of up to €3,000 is currently available on two types of advice at a rate of up to €1,500 each. This aid is paid retrospectively following formal recognition of the Producer Organisation.
In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government to enhance supports for the establishment of Producer Organisations, Ireland's recently submitted CAP strategic plan contains a proposal for enhanced supports for early stage Producer Organisations in the beef, sheep, horticulture (including potatoes), cereals and amenity plant sectors. This proposal provides for the retention of existing advisory support and the addition of an administrative support grant payable annually in the first three years following recognition.
862. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding her Department has granted across rural development for projects on Arranmore Island including all roads. [4285/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware my Department provides co-funding, with the relevant Local Authorities, for minor capital works on our inhabited offshore islands. Applications from the Local Authorities for 2022 are still incoming and therefore it is too early to give any figure as regards funding for this year. However, I can confirm that in the 5 year period from 2016-2021 my Department provided €673,463 in funding for projects on Arranmore under the Islands Minor Capital Works Programme.
Under the 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme funding of €100,000 was approved for the creation of a digital hub on the island.
Arranmore Welfare Committee was approved funding of €4,108 under the Meals on Wheels and Linked Services Measure of CLÁR 2020 for the purchase of equipment.
Comhair na nÓileain was approved funding of €16,941.33 under the 2021 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme for the installation of Blueway signage for water and land based trails on Arranmore Island and Burtonport.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of ambitious capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. In 2019, Donegal County Council was awarded funding of €3,089,199 for the Ailt and Chorain (Burtonport)/Oileán Árainn Mhór (Arranmore Island) – Harbour to Island Regeneration project, with €1,087,065 of this amount allocated to the Arranmore Island element of the project. This project will deliver improved infrastructure at the harbour in Burtonport and provide shorefront amenity infrastructure on Arranmore. This will assist in enhancing the relationship between the island and the mainland and provide opportunities for growth in the tourism and marine leisure sectors.
Under the Community Enhancement Programme Donegal County Council received funding of €8,225 between 2020 and 2021 for projects on Arranmore Island.
The Community Services Programme, or CSP, supports community organisations to provide local social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model. During 2021, Comharchumann Forbartha & Fostaíocht Árainn Mhór Teoranta received CSP funding of €117,071, inclusive of the CSP Support Fund, to provide and manage a broad range of facilities and activities for the local community and tourists to the island. The organisation has been granted an extension under the CSP up to 31 December 2022, with funding of €108,132 supporting one manager and four full time equivalent positions.
Through the COVID-19 Stability Fund for Community and Voluntary Organisations, Charities and Social Enterprises, my Department also supported Comharchumann Forbartha & Fostaíocht Árainn Mhór Teoranta with funding of €19,586. That fund is now closed and there are no plans at present for further rounds of the Stability Fund.
In 2019 Comharchumann Oileán Árainn Mhór CTR received €14,410 in Dormant Accounts funding under the Social Enterprise Capital grants Scheme. This was used to provide suitable wheelchair access and ramp/handrails to a building used by the organisation.
The LEADER programme is a key component of Irelands rural development programme which is co-funded by the EU and the Exchequer. LEADER is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The programme is delivered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) across the country who are responsible for selecting and awarding LEADER funding, at a local level, to projects within their own geographical area. A feature of the LEADER programme is that it is based on a community-led local development, bottom-up approach to rural development.
The current programme is delivered on Arranmore Island by the Donegal Local Action Group (LAG) through its Implementing Partner, Comhar na nOileán CTR.
The Donegal LAG is responsible for the delivery of the programme including approving project applications for funding and processing claims for payment once approved works are completed.
To date, the Donegal LAG has approved 15 projects on Arranmore Island which has a corresponding value in excess of €250,000.
863. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a list of Acts or sections or other provisions of Acts for which a commencement order has yet to be signed in her Department; the reason for the delay; when commencement orders will be signed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4767/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has governance responsibility for the Charities Regulator, and for legislation governing charities.
Under the Charities Act 2009, there are seven remaining sections of the 2009 Act to be commenced, section 89 and sections 93 to 98 respectively.
My Department is currently preparing the Charities (Amendment) Bill, which proposes amendments to the 2009 Act, including consideration of the remaining sections of that Act that have not been commenced will be undertaken as part of the drafting process.
It is my intention that this Bill will be presented for the consideration of Government in the near future.
864. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 plan; the plans that are being implemented in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4876/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra865. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a six month progress report on the implementation of Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 will be available considering the commitment to providing this as set out in the strategy considering her previous commitment to publishing this report by the end of 2021 and the strategy launch in March 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5032/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra866. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the current status of the actions set out in the Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 work programme; the status of the completed scheduled actions for 2021; the status of each measure listed in the work programme in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5033/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 864, 865 and 866 together.
Our Rural Future 2021-2025 is the most ambitious rural development policy for Ireland in decades.
It was published in March 2021 and contains more than 150 commitments across the whole-of-Government, for both short-term recovery and longer-term development.
Updates on the implementation of the five-year Policy will be provided by a series of Progress Reports. Annual work programmes allow for priorities to be updated in light of emerging opportunities and challenges.
The First Progress Report, which will incorporate updates on all measures contained in the 2021 Work Programme, is currently being finalised and will be published shortly following Cabinet approval. Further Progress Reports will be produced every six months thereafter, as per the commitment in the Policy.
Work is also ongoing in respect of the 2022 Work Programme, which seeks to continue the substantial progress and momentum established since the policy's launch. It is being developed in conjunction with all relevant departments, and will be completed in the coming weeks.
867. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 108 of 7 December 2021, the status of the scoping exercise to progress commitment to the development of a rural- proofing model as set out in the Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 strategy and its accompanying Work Plan for 2021; the status of her Department’s engagement with independent consultants on this issue as previously advised; when the recommendations on approaches to rural-proofing will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5034/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur Rural Future is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in Ireland for decades.
The policy contains 152 measures for delivery across the whole-of-Government, with the underlying theme of economic, environmental and societal sustainability. The policy has a vision of ensuring vibrant and thriving rural towns and villages, with a key objective to maximise opportunities for individuals, communities and businesses in rural areas. It recognises that rural areas play an integral role in the economic, social and cultural recovery and wellbeing of the country.
The policy commits to developing an effective rural proofing model. This will ensure that all departments fully consider the effects of new proposals on rural communities, the need to better target the particular challenges and opportunities facing rural areas, and to identify impacts that may arise.
My Department has now engaged independent consultants to fully examine the issue of rural proofing in Ireland. Their work will include consideration of rural proofing initiatives internationally so as to inform our approach based on the experiences of others. The consultants are expected to provide their report in late March 2022, presenting a series of recommendations on approaches to rural proofing for my Department to consider.
868. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way that she plans to engage and ensure policy coherence with other Departments with regard to enabling those living in rural communities to work remotely particularly with regard to the commitments on remote working as set out in the Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 strategy and in consideration of the potential divergence of this goal with the Government’s recent publication of legislation on the right to request remote working and employers having various avenues to deny an employee remote working opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5035/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur Rural Future clearly recognises the transformative role that remote working can have. One of the key actions which the policy commits to in this regard is establishing a comprehensive and integrated network of 400 remote working hubs over the lifetime of the policy to 2025.
An interdepartmental working group, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department was established in October 2020 to oversee the strategic development of this national hub network. The working group included representation from key Government Departments, State Agencies and relevant public bodies, namely the Department of Rural and Community Development, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Enterprise Ireland, IDA, Údaras na Gaeltachta and the Western Development Commission.
The first deliverable from the interdepartmental group was to publish a composite national map of remote working hubs across the country by the end of quarter one 2021. In May 2021 I launched the National Connected Hubs network together with the connectedhubs.ie platform. The National Hub Network Working Group initially identified and mapped over 400 remote working hubs. To date, approximately 180 hubs have joined the Connected Hubs platform, with this number rising on an ongoing basis.
The Connected Hubs platform offers a suite of booking and hub management applications to its members. It will also facilitate the sharing of innovation, experience and best practices across the community. These supports will serve to maximise benefit to member hubs, hub clients, employers, local communities and the wider economy.
Last year, through the Connected Hubs funding stream, I awarded close to €9 million in funding to over 100 successful applicants. This allowed for the expansion of remote working infrastructure in digital hubs, including broadband connection points throughout the country. My Department also continues to invest significantly in the development of remote working facilities across the country through schemes such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
A Connected Hubs marketing campaign is currently in the final stages of development and will be launched in the coming weeks. To date, our focus has been to develop a critical mass of hubs on the connecthubs.ie platform, but this will now shift to raising awareness of the network to relevant stakeholders, including SMEs, business owners and hub users.
The right to request remote work is part of the Government's vision to make remote working a permanent feature of Ireland’s workforce in a way that can benefit all – economically, socially and environmentally. This is consistent with the recognition attached to the importance of remote working within Our Rural Future, and this new legislation will bring us one step closer to making remote working a lasting feature for Ireland’s workforce. This is one of many measures the Government has introduced to incentivise remote working, including the right to disconnect and investment in remote working hubs.
The Government recognises that not all occupations, industries, or particular roles within an enterprise will be appropriate or suitable for remote working. The Right to Request Remote Working Bill will provide employees with a right to request remote work and will provide a legal framework around which requesting, approving or refusing such a request can be based. It will also provide legal clarity to employers on their obligations for dealing with such requests. The intention is to introduce a mechanism for employees to request remote working that is fair but does not place an undue burden on employers.
I am confident that the range of supports and initiatives being implemented across Government Departments will help to ensure that the benefits of remote working are available for workers and employers throughout Ireland.
869. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the local development companies that mention sexual, domestic or gender-based abuse and or violence description in their action plans 2021-2022, in tabular form. [5044/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention. It is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies (LDCs) and aims to address high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally-led approaches. SICAP workers have extensive local connections and in-depth knowledge of available resources and supports in their area and work to ensure the emerging needs of their locality are responded to.
19 LDCs mention sexual, domestic or gender-based abuse and/or violence in the descriptions in their action plans in 2021-2022. The table below outlines the LDCs and the number of relevant actions per year.
|
LDC Name |
Number of actions 2021 |
Number of actions 2022 |
|
Avondhu/Blackwater Partnership CLG |
2 |
2 |
|
Ballyhoura Development Limited |
1 |
|
|
Bray Area Partnership Limited |
1 |
1 |
|
Carlow County Development Partnership Limited |
1 |
|
|
Cavan County Local Development |
3 |
3 |
|
County Sligo LEADER Partnership Company Ltd |
1 |
|
|
Donegal Local Development CLG |
1 |
1 |
|
Dublin Inner City Community Co-operative Society Ltd |
1 |
1 |
|
Dublin South City Partnership |
2 |
2 |
|
Empower |
3 |
1 |
|
Galway City Partnership |
1 |
|
|
IRD Duhallow Ltd |
4 |
4 |
|
Leitrim Integrated Development Company CLG |
1 |
1 |
|
Mayo North East Leader Partnership Company Teoranta |
1 |
|
|
North and East Kerry Leader Partnership Teoranta |
2 |
|
|
Northside Partnership Limited |
1 |
1 |
|
SECAD Partnership CLG |
1 |
1 |
|
South Kerry Development Partnership CLG |
1 |
|
|
Southside Partnership DLR CLG |
1 |
1 |
