Written Answers Nos. 386-390
386. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which plans are afoot to protect possible shortages in the food chain in this country given the increased population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12201/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is among the most food secure countries in the world and ranks second of 113 countries assessed for food security, according to the latest Global Food Security Index released last September.
The population of Ireland in Census 2022 was 5.1 million people, up by almost 362,000 (7%) since the census in 2016. The Irish agri-food sector is globally orientated, with approximately 90% of Irish beef, sheepmeat and dairy produce exported each year. Currently Ireland produces significantly more food than we consume.
While we also import food such as some fruit & vegetables, bread, flour, sugar and cocoa, most of these foods remain readily available on world markets. The resilience of the food supply chain was clearly demonstrated over the past number of years when dealing with the effects of Brexit and the international lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the Deputy is aware, Ireland is part of the EU single market and participates in the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), which is the key mechanism for ensuring food security throughout Europe. The EU is largely self-sufficient for many agricultural products but is a considerable net importer for specific products.
The current geopolitical situation is challenging established assumptions on food security. Increasing input costs in the food supply chain are driving food prices up across the EU, impacting both on food affordability and farmer incomes. The EU communication "Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems” sets out actions in the three areas of security, stability, and sustainability. The EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Ministers, of which I am a member, will continue to focus on these core areas and to support the work of the recently established European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response Mechanism (EFSCM).
387. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the cereal industry in this country continues to remain viable given the evidence of competition in the market place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12202/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish tillage sector is a sector that I am a huge proponent of and is an important and integral component of the Agri-Food industry. The importance of the sector was recognised in the recently released Climate Action Plan 2023 in which there is a target to increase the area in tillage to 400,000 hectares.
I am acutely aware of the current challenges being faced by the sector, including high input costs and lower forward grain prices compared to last year. The tillage sector is also facing competition from the dairy sector for land arising from obligations to comply with nitrates regulations.
I have backed this sector with new and innovative schemes in recent years. In response to the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia, I introduced the Tillage Incentive Scheme with a €400/ha payment on additional crop area. This Scheme delivered €10.1 million in support for the sector last year. I bolstered the existing Protein Scheme by guaranteeing a €300/ha payment on beans, peas and lupins and I also introduced a Protein Cereal mixed crop scheme. The Tillage Incentive Scheme is being continued in 2023 with a budget of €10 million.
In Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan, the budget for the Protein Aid Scheme has been increased from €3 million to €7 million. Last year, the Straw Incorporation Measure delivered €11.1 million in support to the sector and I have committed this hugely important measure to the new CAP.
Under TAMS III, the new Tillage Capital Investment Scheme will have a ceiling for investment of €90,000 and will include a range of new investments relevant for tillage. I also recently announced that ACRES will be extended to the 46,000 farmers that have applied to the Scheme.
I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to the tillage sector and its importance within the wider agricultural industry.
388. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts being made to encourage grain growing given the effects on the industry of the ongoing war in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12203/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe tillage sector is an important and integral component of the Agri-food industry. It is a sector that I have backed with new and innovative schemes in recent years.
I am acutely aware of the current challenges being faced by the sector including high input costs and lower forward grain prices compared to last year.
In response to the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia, I introduced the Tillage Incentive Scheme (TIS) with a €400/ha payment on additional crop area. This Scheme delivered €10.1 million in support for the sector last year. I bolstered the existing Protein Scheme by guaranteeing a €300/ha payment on beans, peas and lupins and I also introduced a Protein Cereal mixed crop scheme. These measures have been acknowledged as contributing to the estimated 6% increase in tillage area, or an additional 20,000 hectares in 2022. The Tillage Incentive Scheme will continue this year with a budget of €10 million.
There is significant potential for tillage farmers to increase native production to replace cereal and protein imports for the livestock industry. The increase in Protein Aid from €3 million to €7 million in the current CAP Strategic Plan will facilitate an increase in protein crops and help deliver on this potential.
In 2021, I introduced the Straw Incorporation Measure which aims to improve our tillage soils. In 2022, this Measure has delivered €11.1 million in support for the tillage crops sector. I have committed this very important measure to the new CAP.
Under TAMS III, the new Tillage Capital Investment Scheme has a ceiling for investment of €90,000 and includes a range of new investments relevant for tillage. I also recently announced that ACRES will be extended to the 46,000 farmers that have applied to the Scheme.
My Department will continue to monitor the situation. I support the long-term viability of the tillage sector and will listen to and engage with the sector in the time ahead.
389. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the poultry sector continues to be protected against disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12204/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the context of the poultry sector continuing to protect against disease, good biosecurity is the overarching key preventative measure.
With regard to the risk from Avian Influenza, I have introduced Avian Influenza (Bio security Measures) Regulations and Avian Influenza (Precautionary Confinement of Birds) Regulations which remain in place. Wild birds continued to test positive for avian influenza in Ireland in recent weeks confirming that the virus is still circulating in the wild bird population, which remain a risk of spreading the infection to Irish poultry. These regulations will be lifted when appropriate to do so and based on risk assessments.
Implementing the highest levels of biosecurity remains the number one method of preventing and controlling the spread of disease amongst poultry and indeed other farmed animal species. The regulations listed above are supportive methods. My Department urges all poultry owners including backyard flock owners to be vigilant and to implement strict biosecurity on their premises, particularly by ensuring only essential personnel, vehicles and equipment have access to their flocks and minimising contact between poultry and wild birds. Flock-owners should also regularly monitor their birds for signs of disease. If they suspect Avian Influenza, they must report it immediately to their veterinary practitioner or to one of the Department’s Regional Veterinary Offices. The Department have plans in place to control the spread of disease should an outbreak of avian influenza be confirmed in an Irish poultry flock.
Fully funded Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health schemes are available to provide free biosecurity checks to farmers - this is organised through Animal Health Ireland. My Department has recently launched a biosecurity strategy that seeks to promote enhanced biosecurity on all farms to limit the risk of disease incursions.
390. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which farm supports contain new money or a replacement for previous schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12205/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027 provides funding of €9.8bn over the 5 years, of which €7.5bn is EU funding and €2.3bn is national funding to co-fund rural development measures. This EU funding is split between Pillar I (Direct Payments and Sectoral Interventions - €5.97 billion) and Pillar II (Rural Development - €1.56 billion). This plan is for a shorter duration due to the transitional period, but on a five-year comparison, the financial allocation under Pillar II of the CSP is €600 million higher than the €3.26 billion initially allocated for the final five years, 2016-2020, of the previous Rural Development Programme, and more than €900 million higher than the actual spend over that period. A total of €5.34 billion is allocated for Pillar II for the period 2021-2027, which is €1.2 billion (30%) higher than for the 2014-2020 period.
In relation to individual schemes, there is a significant change in approach under Pillar 1 - Direct Payments, in particular, the introduction of two new interventions, Eco-schemes and Complementary Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS). There is also increased support for young farmers through the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers replacing the Young farmer scheme.
Regarding Pillar 2 Rural Development interventions, there has been a significant change in approach and a large increase in funding, with €1.5bn provided for the new flagship Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), replacing GLAS. It will pay higher rates to up to 50,000 farmers and encompasses an innovative landscape approach through the co-operation element. In addition, the budget allocation and payment rates per hectare has increased for a number of schemes to support achievement of our climate and environment targets, notably, the organic farming with a five fold increase in the budget to €256m. For livestock, the Sheep Improvement Scheme replaces the Sheep Welfare Scheme with the payment rate increased from €10 to €12 per ewe.
A full list of the new measures under both Pillars are set out in the Table 1 and 2 in the annex. In addition, a summary booklet setting out the key changes, titled, Key Changes to the CAP Schemes, is available on the Government of Ireland website www.cap.gov.ie
