Written Answers Nos. 771-790
771. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of Covid-19-related ICU admissions in each month to date in 2022, between medically immunosuppressed persons and persons whose immune systems are not interfered with by medication, and between persons who are fully vaccinated and unvaccinated. [58174/22]
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.
772. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of Covid-19-related deaths in each month to date in 2022, between medically immunosuppressed persons and persons whose immune systems are not interfered with by medication, and between persons who are fully vaccinated and unvaccinated. [58175/22]
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.
773. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Government has issued any guidelines to local authorities to cease using weed killers containing glyphosate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57705/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as Competent Authority for the authorisation and use of plant protection products, has issued guidance to relevant stakeholders, including to Local Authorities, on the regulatory requirements relating to the placing on the market and use of plant protection products, including Glyphosate.
However, as an authorised chemical, it is subsequently a matter for Local Authorities to determine usage or not of the product, in line with the requirements as referred to above.
774. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any intending recipient of the forgotten farmers scheme will need to meet all six qualifying points of the scheme; and if not, if it will be a case of qualifying on some of the points. [57273/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe details of the eligibility requirements for any scheme to support the forgotten farmer group have yet to be finalised. When the eligibility requirements are finalised and made available to prospective applicants, it will be expected that an applicant will be required to meet all of the eligibility requirements to be successful.
775. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the requirement for a level 6 qualification for the forgotten farmers scheme will have to be in agriculture; and if not, if, for example a young farmer who has a level six in carpentry will qualify. [57274/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe list of approved education courses for young farmer supports administered by my Department is based on the list of courses approved for Stamp Duty relief for young farmers. This list of courses is set out in the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act, 1999, and the updated list of courses is published by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners in their Stamp Duty Manual. All of the listed courses are recognised courses of education in agriculture.
The requirement for an educational qualification under any scheme to address the issue of forgotten farmers will be consistent with the requirement for other young farmer supports administered by my Department, and will require a successful applicant to hold a qualification in recognised course of education in agriculture giving rise to an award at FETAC Level 6 or its equivalent.
776. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that a person (details supplied) has not received their GLAS payment. [57290/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved to GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of 1st January 2017. Payments have issued to this GLAS Contract for scheme years 2017 – 2020 and 2021 advance payment.
The person named was subject of an on-farm Inspection on 27th October 2021. Following this inspection the Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) was found to be deficient and a NMP remedial action letter issued to the person named 23rd May 2022. A final NMP remedial action letter dated 9th August 2022 issued to the person named and to date the information sought remains outstanding.
No further payment can issue on this GLAS Contract until the amended NMP is submitted and the inspection is finalised.
777. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the increase in average veterinary costs to rehome a retired greyhound from €126 in 2018 to €202 in 2021; if the rates for veterinary procedures have increased; if not, if the rates have remained constant; and if the number of procedures per dog has increased. [57298/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
778. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57305/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter raised by the Deputy relates to a former member of my Department’s staff who left the organisation to join An Garda Síochána as a civilian employee almost a decade ago. In line with Department of Public Expenditure & Reform Circular 7/2018 (and its precursors) - Recovery of Salary, Allowances, and Expenses Overpayments made to Staff Members/Former Staff Members/Pensioners, if any overpayment existed it would have transferred with the staff member to the new organisation and any recoupment process would be dealt with there.
779. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he or any officials from his Department or from bodies under the aegis of his Department travelled to the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference; the number who travelled; the costs incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57308/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOne officer from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine travelled to Sharm el-Sheikh Egypt and attended the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference - COP 27.
The total cost to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine including flights, accommodation and travel totaled €2,800.
780. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the present position on the change in legislation to remove the requirement for planning permission when replacing dead and dying ash plantations with conifers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57370/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe introduction of legislation to exempt developments from planning permission is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH).
However, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has had positive engagement with DHLGH on amending the Planning and Development Regulations to allow for the replacement of broadleaf high forest by conifers species on sites less than 10 hectares in size without the current requirement of planning permission.
I understand as part of DHLGH's consideration of amending the legislation they are carrying out an environmental assessment process and have formally consulted DAFM as part of this process. This assessment is ongoing.
I remain hopeful that the legislation can be introduced once this environmental assessment process has been finalised.
781. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 161 of 29 April 2021, if he will increase the rate of payment under TAMS to reflect the increasing construction costs particularly of materials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57384/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are a wide variety of items available under the suite of seven measures under TAMS II. To date, total expenditure under the seven measures of the TAMS II, including transitional expenditure, has reached in excess of €380m with commitments of an additional €117m made to scheme participants who have yet to draw down those commitments.
The rate of grant aid for TAMS II is set at 40% except in the case of qualified young farmers where the rate of grant aid available to such farmers is increased to 60%.
In relation to TAMS 3, changes to the support for capital investments are subject to a Rural Development Plan (RDP) amendment and Commission approval. It is proposed to reset the investment ceiling to €90,000 and include proposed increased grant rates for specified investments that will form part of TAMS 3 in 2023. These proposed changes were formally submitted to the European Commission for approval on the 25th of October 2022. The terms and conditions of the scheme and the investment list for grant-aided items are currently being finalised. All reference cost for new and existing investments are also being reviewed.
Once the RDP amendment is approved by the Commission grant rates, investment lists and terms and conditions relating to schemes can be finalised and published
782. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is collaborating with other Departments with regard to the remit of the fishery harbour centres given their potential to service the offshore renewable energy industry without diminishing their core function as fishery harbours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57393/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe six Fishery Harbour Centres are critical infrastructure for our seafood industry and this was the purpose for which they were conceived under the Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968. Approximately 90% of all fish landings into Ireland come through these facilities which demonstrates how successful they have been for this purpose and also how important they are to the sector. Ireland's 200 miles Exclusive Economic zone provides rich nursery and fishing grounds for our own fleet and for UK and other fleets. The current fuel crisis offers real opportunity for our harbours and coastal communities to become seafood hubs offering best facilities that attract landings from the 80% of fish caught in our 200 mile zone by non-Irish fishing fleets and thereby realise the maximum opportunities for primary and secondary processing of seafood.
My Department participates in a number of offshore renewable energy (ORE) policy groups including the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan Steering Group and the Seafood/ORE Consultation Working Group. Three of the Fishery Harbour Centres are identified in the Policy Statement on the facilitation of Offshore Renewable Energy by Commercial Ports in Ireland published late last year by Minister Ryan, a reflection of the degree of co-ordination taking place across the relevant departments. That said, recent studies such as the Wind Energy Ireland report into port facilities in Ireland make clear that the Fishery Harbour Centres in some respects not ideal in terms of supporting ORE projects. The role which they may ultimately play is as yet unclear and I understand that Minister Ryan's Offshore Wind Taskforce is actively focused on port facilities as part of its ongoing work.
783. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a herd number will be transferred to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57398/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe herd number application was received in Kerry Regional Veterinary Office (RVO) on 11th November 2022. It has been assigned for inspection and when this is completed the applicant will be informed of the outcome by the RVO. If the applicant has further queries on the matter, they can contact Kerry RVO by calling the office on (066) 7145052 or by email Kerry_DVO@agriculture.gov.ie
784. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that an incorrect figure of €15,600, which included coursing pups, for the number of pups born in 2019 was provided by Rásaíocht Con Éireann to the author of a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57482/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
785. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of persons in attendance at Shelbourne Park for the Irish greyhound derby competition nights between 19 August 2022 and 24 September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57483/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
786. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the 2021 annual report for Greyhound Racing Ireland will be published. [57585/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
RCÉ’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2021, incorporating the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Accounts, were noted by Government on 14th September 2022 and laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 15th September 2022. They were subsequently published on RCÉ’S website.
787. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are plans to appoint additional full-time fisheries attaché to the Irish Permanent Representation to the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57698/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine currently has a full-time attaché assigned to fisheries policy in Ireland's Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels, where the Department's team is led by our Agriculture and Fisheries Counsellor.
The Department's attaché network, including the Permanent Representation team, is reviewed regularly. At present there no plans to expand the team in Brussels. However, I assure the Deputy that the demands of servicing the EU policy agenda, including fisheries policy, are under continuous review, including in the context of Ireland's next Presidency of the EU, which will take place in 2026.
788. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the intended timeline to make payments to those affected by the landslide at Shass mountain in County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57808/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, a landslide occurred on Shass Mountain, Drumkeeran, Co. Leitrim on 28th June 2020. An estimated 160,000t of peat and vegetation moved downhill and spilled onto approximately 24ha of agricultural land (19 BPS claimants/landowners affected) and 12ha of forestry land (4 forestry contract holders affected).
I visited the site in November 2021 and saw first-hand the impact of the landslide. It was incredibly tough on everyone in the area. This was a hugely traumatic event for farmers and households in the area.
Following engagement between agencies, organisations and farmers, I announced an aid package on 22nd November 2022 worth €500,000 to support farmers whose land impacted by the landslide. We have moved to support farmers and landowners who have found themselves in this awful situation through no fault of their own. We will continue to stand by the farmers affected.
The package will provide financial support to those landowners whose agricultural lands were inundated with peat silt and sludge as a consequence of the overspill caused by the landslide.
Support will also be provided for fencing and gateways on agricultural land affected by the landslide. Farmers will be able to qualify for payments of up to a maximum of €20,000 each.
For the owners of forestry affected by the landslide, funding is being provided for the reconstitution of affected forest areas as part of the aid package.
The Department is writing to those affected by the landslide with details of the scheme. The attention of applicants is drawn to the closing date for the receipt of applications under the aid package which shall be Wednesday 30th November 2022. This is to ensure that payments under the Aid Package can be made as quickly as possible.
Finally, I thank the Inter Agency working group chaired by Minister Malcolm Noonan for its strong work. I also comment Leitrim County Council for its work in restoring local access and drainage following the landslide.
789. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if veterinary medicinal products are covered by the Irish Protocol of the UK Withdrawal Agreement; if not, the time at which any grace periods relating to them will expire; the position on the impact of such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57851/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince Ireland’s membership of the EEC in 1973 we have enjoyed a largely common market for veterinary medicinal products with many UK medicines authorised as EU or Reference Member State products.
As the UK is no longer within the EU as a result of Brexit, such veterinary products can no longer legally be freely accessed or traded. Part of the ongoing Brexit and NI Protocol negotiations allowed for exemptions in respect veterinary medicine products until 31st December 2022.
My Department, the Health Products Regulatory Authority and the Department of Foreign Affairs are in regular communication with relevant stakeholders including our counterparts in Northern Ireland and the EU in identifying specific animal health or welfare issues that might arise and options for the continued delivery of critical veterinary medicinal products on the island as a whole.
790. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to any issue that may arise in relation to the importation of veterinary medicinal products from the EU via Britain, or in relation to the cross-Border trade of livestock in instances whereby regulatory alignment is not in place regarding such medicines, following Brexit-related grace periods elapsing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57852/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince Ireland’s membership of the EEC in 1973 we have enjoyed a largely common market for veterinary medicinal products with many UK medicines authorised as EU or Reference Member State products.
As the UK is no longer within the EU as a result of Brexit, such veterinary products can no longer legally be freely accessed or traded. Part of the ongoing Brexit and NI Protocol negotiations, however, allowed for veterinary medicine product exemptions until 31st December 2022.
My Department, the Health Products Regulatory Authority and the Department of Foreign Affairs are in regular communication with relevant stakeholders including our counterparts in Northern Ireland and the EU in identifying options for the continued delivery of critical veterinary medicinal products on the island as a whole and limiting any impact on cross border trade of livestock.
