Written Answers Nos. 285-291
285. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an obligation will be placed on collectors through the subvention scheme for them to pay knackeries and the licensing system to collect all animals within their collection area given that this is causing environmental concerns in County Wexford and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21499/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe importance of the animal collection service is well recognised, as it provides an essential service to the farming community and wider public.
My Department is aware of some concerns raised in the south-east area and is in consultation with the Animal Collectors Association (ACA) to resolve these issues.
286. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a forestry application (details supplied) will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21535/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme and an afforestation licence was submitted on behalf of the person named in March 2021.
The Department received the Natura Impact Statement in June 2021. An Appropriate Assessment Screening Report was completed by my Department in August 2021 and following on from that a specialist report was prepared that identified possible issues related to bat species. This report and the application is currently being reviewed by the Departments Ecology Unit.
Following this review, the Department will be in a position shortly to make a decision in relation to the application.
287. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of electric vehicles and-or hybrid vehicles in his allocation of ministerial vehicles; and if he will provide the make and model of all vehicles in his allocation of ministerial vehicles by the year registration. [21600/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that there is no allocation of Ministerial vehicles in my Department and I use my own personal vehicle.
288. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will consider putting an obligation on collectors through the subvention scheme that they pay knackeries and the licensing system to collect all fallen animals within their collection area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21625/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe importance of the animal collection service is well recognised, as it provides an essential service to the farming community and wider public.
My Department is aware of some concerns raised and is in consultation with the Animal Collectors Association (ACA) to resolve these issues.
289. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there have been discussions at European Union level in relation to the need to provide assistance to farmers to mitigate the very substantial increase in fertiliser costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21646/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current situation in relation to the cost and availability of farm inputs remains a significant concern. Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has led to significant hikes in energy, feed and fertiliser prices and significant concerns around supply chain disruption. This is being felt at farm level and is something that I am acutely aware of.
I raised concerns in relation to the impacts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on agri-food supply chains, and especially on input costs at the extraordinary informal meeting of European Union Agriculture Ministers held on 2nd March. I underlined the need for market support and the need to maintain supply chains and to ensure an effective and functioning Single Market.
At the AgriFish Council of 21st March, I asked the EU Commission, as part of its work on monitoring markets, to keep a very close eye on supply chains across the EU and to be ready to consider any measures that may help to alleviate the difficulties caused.
The EU Commission announced a private storage aid scheme for the pigmeat sector, and it is also allowing other exceptional measures at Member State level to respond to market disturbances.
I continue to closely monitor the evolving situation and I am actively engaging with the EU Commission, across Government and with industry as this situation unfolds. This is period of considerable challenge for our sector. I have taken a proactive approach, through the various measures I have announced since this crisis started, to support our farm families and their businesses and I will continue to do so.
290. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail an bhfuil sí sásta an deontas fostaíochta faoin gClár Seirbhísí Pobail (CSP) a ardú go 100% de na costais do chomhlachtaí atá ag feidhmiú ar na hoileáin de bharr na gcostas breise a bhaineann le gnó a reáchtáil ar oileán; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [21550/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI láthair na huaire, tacaíonn an Clár um Sheirbhísí Pobail (CSP) le breis agus 420 eagraíocht pobail chun deiseanna áitiúla fostaíochta agus seirbhísí sóisialta, eacnamaíochta agus timpeallachta a chur ar fáil trí mhúnla fiontraíochta sóisialta.
Cuirtear maoiniú ar fiú €19,033 é ar fáil do gach post Comhionann Lánaimseartha (FTE) agus €32,000 do gach post bainisteora, má tá údar leis sin. Níl an ranníocaíocht CSP ag teacht leis an bpá íosta agus ní chlúdaítear leis an gcostas iomlán tuarastail a bhaineann le poist a bhfuil tacaíocht leo, ach in ionad sin is ranníocaíocht cómhaoinithe bhliantúil í i dtreo chostas iomlán na bhfostaithe. Bheadh costas breise de €7 milliún in aghaidh na bliana i gceist dá gcuirfí ranníocaíocht an CSP ar aon dul le pá íosta na tíre chun ráta reatha an phá íosta atá ar €10.50 in aghaidh na huaire mar aon le ranníocaíocht ÁSPC an Fhostóra de 8.8% do na baill foirne sin a shásamh, méid nach bhfuil ar fáil faoi láthair. Dá bhrí sin, ní mór don eagraíocht lena mbaineann ranníocaíocht an CSP a chómhaoiniú ó fhoinsí eile, mar shampla, ó ioncam a fuarthas as úsáid phoiblí a saoráidí agus a seirbhísí.
Thug Indecon International Economic Consultants faoi athbhreithniú neamhspleách ar an CSP sa bhliain 2020 thar ceann mo Roinne. Foilsíodh tuarascáil Indecon ar an 30 Meán Fómhair 2020, agus ina dhiaidh sin thosaigh mo Roinn agus Pobal ar an obair chun an clár a athstruchtúrú, i gcomhar le Grúpa Comhairleach, a dhéanann ionadaíocht ar pháirtithe leasmhara.
Mar chuid den obair leanúnach seo, déanfar athbhreithniú ar na rátaí maoinithe agus ar na critéir incháilitheachta.
Ina theannta sin, mar is eol don Teachta, tá mo Roinn ag forbairt polasaí oileánda agus pleananna gníomhaíochta gaolmhara. Beidh an polasaí agus na gníomhaíochtaí ó na pleananna seo dhá gcur i bhfeidhm chun tuilleadh feabhais a chur ar fhorbairt agus inmharantacht na bpobal ar ár n-oileáin. Táthar ag súil go bhfoilseofar an polasaí agus na pleananna gníomhaíochta níos déanaí i mbliana.
291. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by the Leader programme administrators in County Kildare who are concerned regarding a financial shortfall; if she can make provision to address the issues of concern; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21635/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with a commitment in Our Rural Future, I launched the Transitional LEADER Programme which came into effect from 1 April 2021 and will run to the end of 2022. A total of €70 million is being made available over this programming period. €65 million of this budget is available to LAGs who deliver the programme and approve projects at local level. This allocation covers both core project expenditure and the administration and animation costs of the LAGs.
On 9 April last year, my Department released the individual LAG allocations for the transitional period. These enhanced allocations provided certainty to all LAGs and their Implementing Partners for profiling their administration, animation and project expenditure for 2021 and 2022.
In situations where the LAGs administration and animation allocations are utilised, I approved additional funding in this area, subject to a maximum monthly contribution from the Exchequer, the limits of which were also notified to each LAG at that time. This notification outlined the specific arrangements with regards to administration and animation Exchequer funding for LAGs. As these amounts notified are the maximum monthly contribution from the Exchequer, LAGs and their Implementing Partners were advised to review their administration and animation expenditure requirements so as to ensure that they are able to operate within their allocated budgets and to take corrective action in advance where required.
Therefore, should the Kildare LAG utilise all its administration and animation programme funding, my Department will be providing a maximum monthly contribution of €24,359 from the Exchequer towards the administration and animation costs incurred. This contribution is based on the average monthly administration and animation allocation over the period July 2016 to December 2020 as outlined to the LAGs in April 2021. There is no provision for this level of funding to be increased.
The process of finalising the arrangements for the new LEADER programme is ongoing in consultation with the EU Commission and stakeholders. This process will include arrangements for the allocation of funding across LEADER areas under the new LEADER programme. The draft CAP Strategic Plan includes an allocation of €180m for the new LEADER programme for the period 2023-2027. This brings the total allocation for the 2021-2027 period to €250m, which maintains the LEADER allocation from the previous 2014-2020 programming period.
