Written Answers Nos. 833-852
833. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a copy of the completed sale agreement for a parcel of land (details supplied); if he will provide proof of the way the Congested District Board acquired ownership of 86 acres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11125/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCopies of the root of title documents relating to the purchase of property by the former Congested Districts Board (CDB)/Irish Land Commission (ILC) are ordinarily not made available to the general public as they are private to the parties concerned.
However, my officials have advised that, in this case, an uncertified copy of the Purchase Agreement concerned issued in 2019, for information purposes only, to the solicitor acting for one of the descendants of the original tenants referred to by the Deputy.
The property in question formed part of lands acquired by the Congested District Board (CDB) on the 3rd May 1906 following the execution of a Purchase Agreement with the former owner. The purchase involved an area totaling 6423A – 2R – 4P across 29 townlands, including the entire Townland of Derry containing 271A – 2R – 20P. These land were subsequently registered by the Land Registry Office (LRO) to the CDB under Folio MY 4933.
By Vesting and Charging Order dated 14th February 1911, a number of the purchasing tenants, including the 4 tenants in the Townland of Derry referred to by the Deputy, were vested in their proposed allotments containing in all 185A – 2R – 7P and subsequently registered to them by the LRO.
Following the above mentioned disposals, the balance of the land in the Townland of Derry containing 86A – 0R – 13P, consisting of roads and bog that is subject to Turbary Rights, remains registered to the CDB, property No 10 on Folio MY4933 refers.
Original Purchase Agreements are not amended by the Property Registration Authority (PRA) when lands are transferred out of a Folio, these transactions are recorded by the PRA on the Folios concerned.
834. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he and or the relevant Minister of State and his Department were each first notified of the proposed military exercises by the Russian Federation which were originally proposed to be conducted in Ireland’s exclusive economic zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11186/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I do not - nor do the Ministers of State in my Department - have responsibility for the monitoring of military exercises by foreign navies in Ireland's Exclusive Economic Zone, neither is there a requirement for such exercises to be notified to my Department.
Responsibility for safety at sea is the responsibility of the Department of Transport and from a fisheries perspective, this matter was primarily a safety matter. That Department issued an advisory Marine Notice in relation to these exercises and I asked my Department to circulate the Marine Notice to fisheries contacts in other Member States.
835. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if designated hen harrier ground is in or out of the AECM scheme; if he will provide detailed information in relation to the breeding hen harrier regions; if the areas in west Limerick can be identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11190/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFarmers is all areas of the country will be able to participate in the general AECM scheme.
However, the map for the Co-Operation measure of the new Agri-Environment Climate Measures (AECM) scheme identifies eight Co-Operation zones throughout the country. Development of the map and selection of the areas for the Co-operation stream involved identifying particular lands throughout the country based on a number of criteria such as SACs, SPAs, and Breeding Hen Harrier Regions amongst others.
Each Co-Operation zone may have multiple environmental priorities, rather than just one priority such as a breeding hen harrier region, for instance.
The Co-Operation map published on my Department’s website does not identify holdings at townland or farm level. Work is ongoing in my Department on the development and rollout of the AECM to enable a farmer or advisor to log on to the Department’s system, enter an identifier such as a herd number and be directed to the Co-Operation stream or General stream of the AECM.
Until this detailed work is completed, it is not possible to communicate definitively to a farmer or their advisor whether a particular farm in west Limerick, for example, is within the CP zone.
This development work is a priority and the portal will open as soon as practicable.
836. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify a matter in relation to Irish horse sectors and TAMs (details supplied). [11216/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are a wide variety of items available under the suite of seven measures under TAMS II. Grant aid is currently available for horse stocks under the Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme and the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme.
To date, total expenditure under the seven measures of the TAMS, including transitional expenditure, has reached in excess of €340m with commitments of an additional €126m made to scheme participants who have yet to draw down those grants.
Some 48,022 applications have been approved under the scheme. All outstanding approvals issued represent potential outstanding liabilities for the Department and we must have a budget in place to pay these claims. As a result, it is not possible to consider adding additional items such as specific investment items for equine farming to the comprehensive list of investment items already available under TAMS at this time.
Specific investments have not yet been finalised in relation to the interventions to be included in the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP)(2023-2027). The Capital Investment Scheme (CIS), as is the case with all proposals under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), is subject to the formal approval of the European Commission.
837. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of felling licenses and afforestation permits granted in total in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively in County Wexford; the number of applications outstanding or undecided for felling licenses and afforestation permits in each year in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11222/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast year, the Department issued a total of 4,050 forestry licences for afforestation, felling and roads, which was a 56% increase on 2020. A detailed licencing plan for 2022 has been published and is available at gov.ie - Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 (www.gov.ie). There is an overall target to issue 5,250 licences this year and main targets as follows:
- A higher priority will be given to afforestation licences for 2022 with a planned 107% increase in output up to 1,040.
- There will be a year-on-year increase of 48% of private felling, roads and afforestation files. Coillte felling licences will maintain the levels they achieved in 2021.
The number of private forestry licences issued 2019 – 2021 for County Wexford are shown below.
|
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Afforestation |
12 |
11 |
10 |
|
Forest Roads |
10 |
4 |
9 |
|
Tree Felling |
25 |
30 |
21 |
The number of applications awaiting decision are in the following table.
|
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Afforestation |
2 |
5 |
3 |
|
Forest Roads |
0 |
2 |
1 |
|
Tree Felling |
13 |
25 |
29 |
838. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding made available to Tipperary County Council for equine related matters including control of horses and training courses by year since 2016. [11261/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra839. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding allocated to equine welfare in County Tipperary by year since 2016. [11262/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 838 and 839 together.
The Control of Horses Act 1996 provides powers to local authorities enabling them to control stray and wandering horses in their areas. Section 15 of the Act provides that the Minister for Agriculture may make grants towards the expenses of a local authority incurred under the Act. In this regard my Department has provided funding to Tipperary County Council as follows :-
|
Year |
Funding |
|
2016 |
€47,775.00 |
|
2017 |
€31,250.00 |
|
2018 |
€37,650.00 |
|
2019 |
€12,100.00 |
|
2020 |
€15,425.00 |
|
2021 |
€6,850.00 |
|
2022 |
€0.00 |
In addition in 2018, DAFM awarded a tender to a provider of an education course with a view to encouraging sulky users off the roads and on to regulated tracks. Courses took place in Dublin, Cork and Tipperary the total funding for these courses amounted to €49,145.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to provide increased funding for animal welfare charities. In line with this, last December, I awarded record funding of over €3.7 million to 98 animal welfare charities countrywide, many of which are engaged in equine welfare activities. The funding to date provided to Tipperary is as follows:-
|
Year |
Funding for animal welfare charities |
|
2016 |
€76,000 |
|
2017 |
€91,000 |
|
2018 |
€92,500 |
|
2019 |
€94,000 |
|
2020 |
€107,500 |
|
2021 |
€114,500 |
840. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of authorised officers responsible for horse welfare in County Tipperary in each year since 2016. [11263/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe control of wandering, stray and nuisance horses is provided for by the Control of Horses Act 1996. This Act empowers local authorities to control such horses on public or private lands in their geographical areas of responsibility.
Enforcement of the Act is a matter for the local authority in question, which has powers under the Act to appoint authorised persons within their area. I have no function in relation to staffing matters pertaining to local authorities.
My Department provides financial assistance to the authorities for implementation of the Act and is available to support initiatives by local authorities that address problems associated with straying or urban horses.
The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 provides, inter alia, for the enforcement of measures to prevent and address specific acts of cruelty to animals. My Department's veterinary inspectors, technical agricultural officers, the Gardaí and certain officers of the ISPCA and DSPCA are authorised to implement the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. The manager of a local authority may also appoint authorised officers under this Act.
My Department, for its part, has 26 officers authorised under the Animal Health and Welfare Act based in the Tipperary Regional Veterinary Office who have functions in respect of a wide range of animal health and welfare matters.
Members of the public with concerns about the welfare of an animal can contact my Department through the Animal Welfare Helpline on: Call save: 0761 064408; Phone: 01 6072379. All calls are followed up as appropriate.
841. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of engagement his Department has had with landowners or persons responsible for land in County Tipperary on whose land instances of stray or abandoned horses has been reported each year since 2016; the number of reports of such instances in County Tipperary; and the actions that were taken. [11264/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter of the control of straying and abandoned horses falls under the Control of Horses Act 1996, the implementation of which falls under the responsibility of the Local Authorities. The local authority is the appropriate authority to which landowners or persons should engage on such issues.
The Control of Horses Act 1996 provides powers to local authorities enabling them to control stray and wandering horses on public or private lands in their areas. My Department provides financial funding to each local Authority to support their enforcement work. My Department's staff actively engage with Tipperary County Council and other stakeholders to safeguard animal welfare using a collaborative approach.
Separately, my Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of suspected animal cruelty or neglect. The table below sets out the number of calls received from 2016-2021 which related to equines in the Tipperary area. Such reports of suspected abuse are referred to Department veterinary staff in the Regional Veterinary Offices for follow-up and appropriate actions as necessary.
|
Year |
Horse complaints Tipperary |
|
2016 |
17 |
|
2017 |
32 |
|
2018 |
57 |
|
2019 |
28 |
|
2020 |
32 |
|
2021 |
23 |
842. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of equine welfare and urban horse projects funded by his Department each year since 2016. [11265/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is fully committed to supporting sustainable, One Health, One Welfare initiatives in line with the Programme for Government and Working Together for Animal Welfare, Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025.
In this regard, my officials work with and support local authorities and NGOs in progressing urban horse projects and there are currently projects at every stage, from the initial feasibility and planning stages to the operating stage around the country.
From 2016 to date, a total of 14 projects have been funded with financial support amounting to €1,555,397.92
843. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of the 850 road licences in his Department’s plan that are for the private sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11307/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the start of the year, there were 585 road licence applications in the system for processing. The planned 850 forest road licence decisions that will issue this year will include new applications received this year.
As these are applications that have not yet been received by the Department, I cannot at this juncture say how many decisions that will issue this year will be for private licences, but we are committed to delivering 850 licences in total which is a 27% increase on output last year.
844. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his officials have briefed and informed the relevant Department responsible for roadside trees of the dangers to traffic and pedestrians from falling trees due to Ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11309/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast year, my colleague Minister of State Senator Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, launched “A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees”, which was produced by the Tree Council of Ireland and supported by my Department. The document is a guide to landowners on their responsibilities associated with the management of roadside trees.
The Guide may be found here gov.ie - A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees (www.gov.ie) and includes information on recognising and dealing with trees infected by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus or Ash Dieback Disease.
845. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Coillte road licences issued on week two of the February dashboard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11310/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I advised in Dáil Question number 682 of 25th January, Dáil Question number 810 of 8th February and Dáil Question number 963 of 15th February forest road applications are received and decided daily. Applications received from Coillte are treated the same as applications from private individuals.
I remind the Deputy that in the month of January, 76 forest road licences issued, 36 to private applicants and 40 to Coillte. In week two of February, ending on 11th, one private and 8 Coillte road licences were issued. In week ending 18th February, one private and three Coillte licences issued. To date (18th February) 100 forest road works licences have issued, 42 private and 58 to Coillte.
846. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if GLAS participants received two extra years payment whereas AOS participants did not receive extra payments on their scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11316/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Agri- Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) was introduced in 2010 and ran until 2018 under four separate tranches. The Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) was launched in 2015, under Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, as the successor to AEOS. All participants in AEOS were offered the opportunity to join GLAS.
A series of information meetings was held at the launch of GLAS in 2015 and attendees were informed of details of the scheme including the option to transfer to GLAS. Information on the option to move from AEOS to GLAS was also provided by Department staff at various fora.
As negotiations on the new Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), which had been due to commence on 1st January 2021, had not been concluded, a successor scheme was not in place when contracts entered into under Tranches 1 and 2 of GLAS were due to expire on 31st December 2020. An extension of those contracts was offered to active participants for a 12 month period (to 31st December 2021) under the same RDP so that participants would continue to undertake GLAS actions and accordingly be eligible to receive payment in respect of those actions.
As the new CAP regulation was not published until December 2021 and a successor scheme could not have been offered by end 2021, a further 12 month extension was offered to active participants whose GLAS contracts were due to expire on 31st December 2021. This cohort now included participants in all three tranches in GLAS.
Those participants who entered GLAS in Tranches 1 and 2, who accepted offer to extend their contracts for a second year, may potentially receive payment in respect of the two additional years, subject to satisfactorily undertaking their GLAS actions for the duration of the extension period.
847. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the plans to bring a proposal to the Houses of the Oireachtas to achieve the effect of Seanad Committee Stage amendments 3 and 32 to the Animal Health and Welfare Bill as mentioned by a person (details supplied) during the debate. [11358/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am happy to update the Deputy on the matter that was the subject of amendment three proposed at Committee Stage in the Seanad discussion of the Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021.
My Department is already working on a proposal very much in keeping with the amendment as proposed, and I expect it to reach the Oireachtas later this year. I commit to making a proposal that will implement the policy objective concerned, further strengthening our animal welfare legislation and enabling its more effective enforcement.
With regard to amendment 32, I would refer the Deputy to Minister Humphreys and the Department of Community and Rural Development, where responsibility for the Control of Dogs Act lies.
848. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of external reports commissioned in 2021; the cost of each; the external reports that were received by his Department in 2021; when such reports were or are expected to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11364/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the attached table.
849. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for delays in TAMS applications for Natura and hill farmers; the steps he has taken to alleviate the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11365/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTAMS II is a demand-led scheme giving eligible applicants the choice of wide variety of items available under the suite of seven measures. Details of eligibility for all measures are available of my Department's website.
Some 48,022 applications including those belonging to eligible Hill and Natura farmers have been approved under the scheme to date. Approvals continue to issue on an ongoing basis without any undue delays.
Total expenditure to-date under the seven measures of TAMS, including transitional expenditure, has reached in excess of €340m with commitments of an additional €126m made to scheme participants who have yet to draw down those grants.
850. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 761 of 30 November 2021, the financial support that has been provided to the voluntary national Johne's disease control programme in each of the years 2012 to date in tabular form; the specified purpose for which this support is provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11409/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Johne's Disease Control Programme is managed by Animal Health Ireland (AHI), which is a public-private partnership, with funding provided by industry matched with funding provided by my Department.
Since 2012 the Department of Agriculture Food & Marine has provided financial and other supports to the Johne's Disease Programme, including testing on bulk milk tank samples, Veterinary Risk Assessments and Management Plans (VRAMPS) and Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH). All these measures are to support farmers in identifying and managing the Johne's Disease challenge in their herds.
The below table shows The Department of Agriculture Food and Marines financial supports towards the Johne's Disease Control Programme since 2013 to date. TASAH measures are supported under the Rural development programme.
|
DAFM Funding |
€ |
|
2013 |
200,000 |
|
2014 |
200,000 |
|
2015 |
130,000 |
|
2016 |
130,000 |
|
2017 |
47,898 |
|
2018 |
352,565 |
|
2019 |
367,366 |
|
2020 |
562,600 |
|
2021 |
672,000 |
851. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has a strategy or policy with regard to the eradication of Johne’s disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11410/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI advise the Deputy that a voluntary Irish Johne's Disease Control Programme is led by Animal Health Ireland (AHI) and supported by stakeholders including my Department, representative farming organisations, ICOS, the milk processors and Veterinary Ireland.
The Johne's Disease Implementation Group in AHI takes decisions on the most effective measures to deal with the challenge of Johne's Disease. The Programme provides a suite of effective and on-going disease prevention and containment strategies to control the spread of Johne's Disease in the national herd.
While the programme was initially aimed at dairy herds, now all herds are encouraged to participate in the IJCP. The science of the JD control programme in Ireland has been guided by the Johne's Disease Technical Working Group of AHI and by disease control modelling. The objectives of the programme are addressed through a combination of risk assessment, voluntary assurance and national surveillance. The IJCP enables participating herd owners to have increasing confidence in the absence of infection in their herds and to achieve significant control or elimination, and it underpins the quality of Irish dairy and beef produce in the international marketplace. The programme provides a long-term approach to the control of JD in Ireland.
Johne’s disease is a bacterial disease of cattle, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculossis (MAP) for which there is no effective treatment. Cattle usually become infected as calves in early life, but this is not detectable until cattle are older.
852. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 758 of 30 November 2021, the counties in which the referenced nine carcases diagnosed with Johne’s disease originated from; the year they were identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11411/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing interrogation of my Department's Laboratory information management systems, I c an confirm the following are the counties of origin of the nine positive Johne's Disease cases from 2017:P Kilkenny, Clare, Carlow, Roscommon, Wexford, Kildare and Laois.
It should be noted that these were diagnosed as a result of animals being submitted to a DAFM laboratory. As such, these findings are not a true representation of the national Johne's Disease situation and no inferences can be taken as to distribution or prevalence.
