Thursday, 16 Feb 2023

Written Answers Nos. 417-428

Fishing Industry

Ceisteanna (417)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Ceist:

417. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the serious concerns in the fishing industry regarding the limitations of the voluntary permanent cessation scheme; and if he will urgently establish the amount of unspent money within the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund for Ireland and seek permission from the European Commission to reallocate this to persons who have lost their livelihoods as part of a fair and reasonable decommissioning scheme. [7808/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

As the Deputy is aware, the Brexit Voluntary Permanent Cessation Scheme was developed based on a specification and methodology recommended by the Seafood Task Force in its October 2021 report. In developing this recommendation, the Task Force, which included Producer Organisations and representatives of the fishing sector, took into account relevant EU guidelines and regulations concerning permanent cessation and the use of Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) funding.

I am aware that since offers were made to eligible scheme applicants in late 2022, there have been a number of queries concerning terms which were included in the published 2021 Task Force report and which were subsequently and necessarily included in the scheme itself.

In respect of individual cases, it is the nature of the scheme that all of these final offers are different and are based on the specifics of each vessel and their fishing activity. The individual offers are formal contractual offers from the State, through BIM, to each individual and it is solely for each individual to consider their specific offer. I would encourage any fisher who has been issued an offer to assess it with their professional advisors and in the context of the tax benefits which were introduced to accompany the scheme. Any queries an individual may have in relation to their specific offer may be directed to BIM.

Those who have accepted offers and go through the decommissioning process will receive payment in line with the terms and conditions established by the Task Force and approved by the EU Commission, and out of the already increased scheme budget which I sought and secured.

As is clear from the terms of BAR funding, as established by the BAR Regulation, all applicants who wish to participate in the scheme, must be fully decommissioned and paid during 2023. There is no provision in the regulation for flexibility in this time frame. As such the Voluntary Permanent Cessation Scheme as published, the transparent details as published to all stakeholders by BIM, and the scheme as considered and applied for applicants is the finalised scheme.

Agriculture Schemes

Ceisteanna (418, 419)

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

418. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of ASSAP advisors employed in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7880/23]

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

419. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expand the number of ASSAP advisors to ensure progress on water quality is maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7881/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 419 together.

The Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) commenced in 2019 with 29 advisors. The number of advisors employed under the Programme has since expanded and 44 advisors are now engaged under the Programme. Twenty of these advisors are managed by Teagasc and funded by the Government through my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The remaining 24 advisors are funded by nine dairy processors.

The ASSAP advisors work across all counties in Ireland and collaborate with catchment scientists from the Local Authorities Waters Programme to provide farmers with confidential advice focused on preventing nutrient losses to water.

An external expert Review of ASSAP took place in 2021. It recommended the continuation and expansion of the Programme. Since then the Government Departments have committed to continue providing funding for this important Programme. At the same time, the dairy industry has committed additional advisors to the Programme.

In a further response to the 2021 Review, the Government has committed significant funding to support a Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP). The call for proposals under this EIP closed in late January and the proposals that were submitted are currently being evaluated. It has hoped that the EIP Water will significantly build on and further extend the positive work of the ASSAP.

Question No. 419 answered with Question No. 418.

Agriculture Industry

Ceisteanna (420)

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

420. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that a wool scouring machine is available to wool producers in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7882/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

As the Deputy will be aware there is currently no facility of any significant scale scouring of wool in Ireland . The last scouring plant of significant scale closed in Dublin in the early 1980s due to environmental concerns.

An independent Wool Report was published in July last year.

One of its recommendations is that further studies be conducted to consider the viability of developing a long-term roadmap towards on-island scouring and processing capability. These studies would include additional research into modern methods of scouring which may be suited to an Irish wool context and within the constraints of the 2030 environmental targets.

It is envisaged these further studies will be conducted by the soon-to-be established Irish Wool Council which will be an independent industry led body with a mandate to promote develop and promote Irish wool in order to advance the opportunities for wool both domestically and internationally. Ultimately, of course, the establishment of any such facility will be a matter for commercial examinations and subject to normal commercial and environmental considerations.

Agriculture Industry

Ceisteanna (421, 423)

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

421. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to address the sharp drop in the profit made from sheep and lamb sales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7883/23]

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

423. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will put an emergency fund in place to support sheep farmers who have seen a collapse in income due to rising input prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7921/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 and 423 together.

I begin by expressing the Government's long-term commitment to the sheep sector which plays a critical role in balanced regional development and the overall success of our agri-food export industry.

In recognition of its importance, there are already various sector specific and other supports available to sheep farmers. Under the Sheep Welfare Scheme, advance payments worth €15.5m issued to 17,500 farmers in November 2022 for the final year of the scheme. Balancing payments will issue in the second quarter of 2023. The new Sheep Improvement Scheme under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) attracted 19,165 applicants by the closing date of 9 January 2023. As the core support for primary producers from this year onwards, this scheme aims to enhance gains made under the Sheep Welfare Scheme by providing support for actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sector. To incentivise those improvements, the new scheme payment rate have increased by 20% to €12 per ewe.Over its lifespan, the CSP provides almost €10 billion in supports to the rural economy and much needed certainty to farm families. Sheep farmers are also eligible to avail of supports provided by other schemes administered by my Department apart from the targeted Sheep improvement Scheme. These include, for example, the ACRES and Organics Schemes. Furthermore, support for early-stage producer organisations, which will be introduced later this year, should strengthen the position of sheep farmers in the supply chain.

To address the current market situation, I have asked the Chair of the Beef and Sheep Food Vision Group to convene a meeting of members focused on the sheep sector as soon as is practicable.

I understand that this meeting will take place later this week. Bord Bia and Teagasc, which are represented on this group, will make presentations on their ongoing activities and discuss with other stakeholders what more can be done to support the sheep sector in the present market conditions.

Semi-State Bodies

Ceisteanna (422)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

422. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a schedule of the non-commercial and semi-State commercial companies under his aegis; if an explanatory memorandum will be provided in respect of the policy of a dividend payment to the Exchequer from each company; the dividend paid by each company to the Exchequer for each year from 2000 to 2022; if his Department collects the funds and forwards it to the central fund or whether it goes directly; if over that period his Department has requested an increase in respect of the dividend due over it’s percentage shareholding; the number of occasions that it waived the dividend; the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7898/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The information sought by the Deputy in relation to payment of Dividends of the State Bodies under the remit of my Department to the Exchequer is outlined in the attached document for each Commercial State Body.

The Non-Commercial State Bodies under the remit of my Department by their nature do not pay a dividend, and thus have a Nil reply.

Dividends

Question No. 423 answered with Question No. 421.

Departmental Properties

Ceisteanna (424)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

424. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has received a request from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to identify properties under the control of his Department or under the control of agencies under the remit of his Department for the purposes of providing accommodation to international protection applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection; if he has identified potential properties and their locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7930/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I can confirm that a request has been received from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to identify properties under the control of my Department for the purposes of providing accommodation to international protection applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection.

My Department has reviewed its property portfolio to identify land and buildings, and in the immediate aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine, my Department notified the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of three properties that have the potential to be suitable for accommodation. However, extensive works would be required to make them properly habitable. Details of these three properties have been uploaded onto the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Geo-spatial mapping database.

In addition, my Department has identified six sites that could potentially be used to meet the medium to long-term accommodation and housing requirements. Extensive ground works would be needed to prepare these sites for construction projects, as they are currently used for agricultural purposes and do not currently have the required services necessary to support residential needs.

I am very supportive of Minister O’Gorman’s efforts to ensure that Ireland continues to meet its international and humanitarian obligations and my Department continues to work with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in this regard.

As regards the 12 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.

Coillte Teoranta

Ceisteanna (425)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Ceist:

425. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will liaise with Coillte to arrange the planning and execution of new viewing points for walkers on Coillte land on the Cooley Mountains, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8009/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and is operationally independent from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I have referred the matter to Coillte for direct follow-up with the Deputy.

Agriculture Industry

Ceisteanna (426)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

426. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will examine and address a matter (details supplied) in relation to securing the supply of organic rations for sheep; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8011/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Under the EU Organic regulations, there is a requirement that feed for organic livestock must be produced organically. I understand that there is importation of compound organic feed in particular from the UK and whilst there may be a delay in delivering organic sheep rations onto farms in a small number of cases, there is overall availability in the sector.

To address this issue, I have introduced measures in the Organic Farming Scheme to encourage farmers with suitable tillage ground to convert to organic farming to produce organic grain and grain/ protein crops to meet the growing demand and reduce the reliance on imported feed. Furthermore, significant efforts are being made to co-ordinate the supply of such home grown feed with demand.

In recent months, both Teagasc and the Agricultural Consultants Association have invested significant resources in organic advisory support and I would advise any farmer who is experiencing any difficulty in obtaining organic rations to contact their local advisor immediately.

My Department will continue to monitor the situation including liaising with the organic feed merchants.

Control of Dogs

Ceisteanna (427)

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

427. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will expand the dog warden service in County Kildare, given the recent attacks on sheep by free roaming dogs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7884/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The 2021 dog control statistics, published by my Department on gov.ie, show that there are two full time dog wardens in County Kildare.

Section 15(1) of the Control of Dogs Act 1986 states that every local authority must employ at least one dog warden, it is a matter for each local authority to determine if more than one dog warden is required to carry out the necessary functions of the dog warden service in their local authority area.

Recently, a working group chaired by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine was established to examine the various issues and consider all relevant legislative and enforcement issues in relation to dogs. This will bring all the key players together to consider what action can be taken to keep both people and animals safe. I expect the group to report with recommendations in the coming weeks.

Semi-State Bodies

Ceisteanna (428)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

428. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a schedule of the non-commercial and semi-State commercial companies under her aegis; if an explanatory memorandum will be provided in respect of the policy of a dividend payment to the Exchequer from each company; the dividend paid by each company to the Exchequer for each year from 2000 to 2022; if her Department collects the funds and forwards it to the central fund or whether it goes directly; if over that period her Department has requested an increase in respect of the dividend due over it’s percentage shareholding; the number of occasions that it waived the dividend; the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7911/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The agencies under the aegis of the Department of Rural and Community Development do not pay any dividends to the Exchequer. The agencies, namely Western Development Commission, Water Safety Ireland, Charities Regulatory Authority and Pobal, are not for profit bodies, and are not involved in commercial or trading activities. As such, no profits, from which dividends would be paid, are possible.