Written Answers Nos. 2116-2135
2116. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will as a shareholder in Coillte Teoranta clarify details regarding the area of the Coillte estate that is on peat soils. [42657/22]
View answerThe abstract from the 14th International Peat Congress refers to Coillte owning over 445,000 hectares of land, of which 232,000 ha are peatlands. These estimates refer to both forest lands and the large unplanted areas.
In the letter from my Department to Directorate-General for the Environment of the European Commission (dated 24-11-21), a response was provided in relation to a number of issues concerning Irish forestry and the environment. The letter stated that one third of Coillte’s entire estate (c.136,000ha) is on peatland soils. This figure refers to the portion of Coillte estate along the western seaboard and does not relate to the entire Coillte estate nationally. The figures quoted are based on information provided by Coillte in their work on the Wild Western Peatlands Project which aims to restore and rehabilitate approximately 2,100 hectares of Atlantic blanket bog and heathland that is currently planted with lodgepole pine and Sitka spruce forests.
2117. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will request Coillte to install defibrillators in public parks in the interest of health and safety. [42783/22]
View answerCoillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and is operationally independent from my Department.
Coillte has advised my Department that their First Aid Policy and Procedure ensures that automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are considered on a site-by-site basis and where there are staff trained in its use.
As such, they only provide defibrillators in locations which are staffed or supervised. For example, there is one in the Seed Café at Avondale Forest Park, which is a supervised area during opening hours.
Many of Coilte's forest parks are large unsupervised public spaces and therefore they don’t provide defibrillators at all of these locations.
2118. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when farmers who have installed solar panels on their farm buildings will be provided with meters in order that they can be reimbursed for the excess electricity that they are supplying back into the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42797/22]
View answerThe installation of smart meters is not within the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
My Department does however provide grant aid through the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II) to assist our farmers in maximising their contribution to the production of renewable energy through the installation of Solar PV technology along with battery storage on Irish farms for on farm use only, there is currently no provision under TAMS for selling excess energy back to the grid.
The solar PV systems grant aided under TAMS includes Solar PV Panels and Solar PV Rechargeable Batteries and Solar Panels for water heating under the Pigs and Poultry scheme. An ‘On Farm Solar PV Survey’ must be completed and submitted with the application to quantify the holdings electricity power requirement and the planned electricity supply from the proposed development.
Following a review of power requirements, I have recently increased the maximum size of PV panels eligible for grant aid for the Pig and Poultry scheme to 62kw. A review is also taking place on solar requirements for other schemes.
It is also proposed that support for renewable energy investments will continue under the new Capital Investment Scheme as part of the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) submitted to the EU Commission for approval last December.
My Department is also working closely with Minister Eamon Ryan, whose Department launched the Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) in December 2021, which are a suite of new measures which that Department has introduced for renewable production this year.
I will continue to engage with Minister Eamon Ryan and his Department and I am examining all ways to support farmers in this area.
2119. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the totality of grant aid and-or subsidy provided to each local authority in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022 (details supplied). [42821/22]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table.
2120. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 358 of 12 May 2022, if the data (details supplied) refer to just those horses sent to slaughterhouses or if they include all horses slaughtered. [42864/22]
View answerThe details supplied previously refer to the number of thoroughbred horses slaughtered at facilities approved by my Department for each year from 2020 to May 2022 inclusive.
2121. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 2085 of 26 July 2022, if all groups in the United States of America have had their funding cut for the transport costs of homing greyhounds from an organisation (details supplied) in the United States. [42869/22]
View answer2128. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reconsider the public funding for Greyhound Racing Ireland given that it has stopped funding one of its key welfare programmes, namely the Irish greyhounds to America programme (details supplied). [43026/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2121 and 2128 together.
Rásaíocht 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.
My Department provides dedicated financial support under the Horse and Greyhound Fund (the Fund) to RCÉ, the statutory body responsible for the operation and regulation of the greyhound industry. Since 2021, it has ring fenced 10% of the RCÉ allocation from the Fund for welfare measures, including integrity.
RCÉ has informed my Department that it has rehomed 157 greyhounds this year under its 50% support arrangement. It is committed to continue supporting the rehoming of greyhounds to the U.S. and this programme will be considered again for 2023, as part of its overall suite of welfare programmes.
It is worth noting this context that the cost of transporting greyhounds to this part of the world has risen significantly (doubled since March 2020).
Further rehoming opportunities in the US are also being explored. Due to the high level of demand for greyhounds as pets in certain regions of the U.S., some U.S agencies have been able to fund 100% of the transport costs with RCÉ and the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust covering the balance of the expense incurred. Such an arrangement has resulted in a further 142 greyhounds being rehomed under the scheme, with further such rehomings planned in the coming weeks.
2122. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there will be changes to TB testing requirements to include pre and post-movement testing; if so, if this will be mandatory going forward; the way that it is proposed to finance such testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42870/22]
View answerThe new EU Animal Health Law came into effect in April 2021. In the case of Bovine TB, these new regulations , require that where animals are being moved from farm to farm or through marts, they must have been tested within a certain time frame. The requirements are that
1. All Bovines that are moving farm to farm or through a mart must be tested in the previous six months, and
2. They must also be moving from a herd that been tested in the last six months.
If they do not fulfil both of these requirements, they must be tested, either within the 30 days prior to movement or within 30 days after movement into the new herd. These requirements are applicable across all EU member states.
The Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum has agreed to the introduction of these mandatory requirements on a phased basis.
Where animals that move do not satisfy the two testing-interval requirements, the initial phase of implementation will see the requirement for either pre- or post-movement test activated in respect of cows of all ages and male animals greater than 36 months of age. This first phase will come into effect on 1st February 2023. No date has been set for phase two, which will see the rule applied to all animals but these changes will only be implemented in consultation with farm representatives.
The responsibility to ensure that animals are tested in compliance with these requirements ultimately rests with the purchaser of the animals. Animals that require a test in the 30 days after the movement will be restricted immediately to the herd into which they have moved. This herd has 30 days to carry out a test on those animals. If after 30 days, the animals have not been tested then the herd that received them will be restricted. If after another 30 days, the animals have still not been tested then the whole herd will be scheduled for a TB test.
The majority of animals being moved currently satisfy these time intervals and so no additional testing will be required.
Herd owners either selling or buying animals can time their annual herd test to coincide with the sale or purchase of animals. If a herd owner wishes to re-schedule their annual herd test to an earlier date, to facilitate the sale or purchase of animals, they should contact their Regional Veterinary Office.
Herd owners may test those animals that have been moved in as part of their annual herd test or as part of any other Department-paid test where one is scheduled for completion, e.g., contiguous tests or post de-restriction check tests.
2123. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) will receive an increase to their pension. [42890/22]
View answerI advise the Deputy that all matters pertaining to employees and former employees of Coillte are operational matters for that organisation. I have no function in relation to these operational matters.
I have forwarded this question to Coillte, asking that they respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
2124. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the LIFE on Machair project; the number of farmers in County Mayo who will be included in this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42941/22]
View answerAs the deputy will be aware, the co-ordinating beneficiary for the Life on Machair project is the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with my Department being an associate beneficiary.
The aim of the Life on Machair project is to protect and restore machair systems inside the Natura 2000 network. The project will focus on nine Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and four Special Protection Area (SPA) sites in counties Donegal, Mayo and Galway. Across these sites, the emphasis will be on bringing machair habitats back into favourable conservation status.
As part of the project, my officials will be involved in designing a results-based agri-environment measure that will reward participating farmers based around the quality of the habitats involved. The number of farmers involved in this programme will be decided by the project team in due course.
2125. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way that the grants for animal welfare organisations are accessed; the way that each organisation which receives funding is selected for increased funding while others are not; if he will honour his commitment to increase the grants, across the board, to include those organisations struggling to do the work on the ground in their locality and not just those based in large towns and cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42963/22]
View answerAnimal welfare is a high priority for my Department and considerable resources and funding are provided to organisations involved in rescuing and rehoming animals. In December 2021, I provided record funding of €3.7million to 98 animal welfare bodies throughout the country.
As with previous years, the full amount of funding awarded was provided directly to these organisations in December 2021 for the direct provision of care for animals throughout 2022.
The Programme for Government includes an undertaking to provide additional funding in support of animal welfare again this year, to which I am fully committed.
Applications for annual funding from animal welfare organisations are assessed carefully and awards are made on the basis of objective criteria. These include the level and type of assistance provided by the organisation in the delivery of care and welfare services to animals and the level of funding raised by organisations from other sources to support welfare activities.
To be eligible for funding, applicant organisations must be registered charities and must supply detailed information on their governance arrangements and financial records.
In 2021, to further enhance the impact of public funding for animal welfare bodies nationwide, my Department has aligned our funding model with the animal welfare policies, objectives and priorities outlined in Together for Animal Welfare, Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025. Consequently, the assessment of funding application places emphasis on the ‘One Health, One Welfare’ approach to education and dissemination of knowledge to improve animal welfare delivered by the organisations.
This emphasis on education and knowledge sharing is in place again this year with additional criteria added to the application process for assessment.
All applications are assessed using the same robust processes and criteria outlined above, regardless of size or location.
2126. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will commit to distribute animal welfare grants earlier than December due to the rising costs given that many organisations will definitely cease under the current pressure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42964/22]
View answerAnimal welfare is a high priority for my Department and considerable resources and funding are provided to organisations involved in rescuing and rehoming animals.
In December 2021, I provided record funding of €3.7 million to 98 animal welfare bodies throughout the country. This funding was provided to these organizations for the direct provision of care for animals throughout 2022.
This funding for animal welfare organisations was evidence of my own and the Government’s ongoing commitment to animal welfare and acknowledges the important role played by animal welfare organisations. These organisations play a crucial role in ensuring all our animals are cared for and protected.
The Programme for Government includes an undertaking to provide additional funding in support of animal welfare again this year, to which I am fully committed.
The call for grant applications for this year's awards was launched in June this year and applications received are now being evaluated by my officials.
The application process has been revised this year to reflect the importance of the provision of education on animal welfare by grant applicants to a broader range of citizens, with the goal of improving the understanding of animal welfare and responsible pet ownership by the public.
All applicants are encouraged to provide these services. The evaluation process must be robust and takes some time, to ensure the appropriate distribution of public funds.
The purpose of the 2022 Animal Welfare Grant Programme for Registered Charities is to provide funding to animal welfare organisations for the direct provision of care to animals throughout 2023. These awards will be announced and funding provided to successful applicants before the end of 2022.
2127. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of herds that will be over the 6,500 kg band under the proposed bands to be introduced under the nitrates regulations; the number of cows that will be in that category; the percentage of herds that will be within the 4,500 kg-6,500 kg band and the number of cows that will be in that category; the percentage of herds that will be under the band; the number of cows that will be in that category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43007/22]
View answerIreland’s new Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) introduced additional measures to protect surface waters and groundwater from nutrient pollution arising from agricultural sources. It includes new provisions for the banding of Dairy Cow Excretion Rates.
In 2022, dairy cows produce 89kg N/cow per year. However three new excretion rate bands will apply to dairy cows from 2023: 80kg N/cow, 92kg N/cow and 106 kg N/cow. Herds will be assigned to one of these bands based on their rolling historic average milk yield/cow.
The profile of banding for the National Dairy Herd for 2019 is illustrated in the Table below.
Profile of banding of the National Dairy Herd for the 2019
|
Milk Yield bands and Year |
Supplier % |
Milk % |
Milk Yield kg |
|
<4,500kg |
|||
|
2019 |
18 |
8 |
3,687 |
|
4501-6500 kg |
|||
|
2019 |
67 |
68 |
5,523 |
|
<6,501kg |
|||
|
2019 |
15 |
24 |
7,162 |
2129. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if office space for a superintendent veterinary inspector living in County Donegal but headquartered centrally is available in County Donegal or if temporary office space could be made available and, if not, when office space in County Donegal is likely to be made available for a person with this role. [43101/22]
View answerStaff in my Department are headquartered in specific geographic areas to meet the business needs of the Department and the needs of our customers. Some staff members may choose to accept an assignment, even though it may not be located close to their home. When they do so, that is a matter of choice for them.
My Department provides suitable office accommodation and facilities to all staff based on their assigned work location, rather than on the basis of where a staff member lives. When vacancies arise, staff are free to seek a transfer to assignments in locations that may better suit their domestic arrangements.
Such transfers are part of formal processes and are operated in a fair and transparent manner.
2130. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expenses paid to ministerial advisers in his Department in each of the years 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43147/22]
View answerIn common with many Government Departments, my Department has a number of Special Advisers appointed who play key roles in the provision of advice and support to myself and the Ministers of State. During 2020, 2021 and 2022 there have been a total of 12 officers assigned to the role of Special Advisor, with a maximum of five serving at any one time.
Where expenses are incurred by Advisers in the performance of duties relating to their brief, the Department pays mileage, travel and subsistence at normal Civil Service rates. The table below reflects the expenses paid to Advisers in each of the three years identified. It is relevant to note that the year in which the expense occurred may differ to that in which the expense was paid.
Expenses Incurred by Special Advisors during 2020, 2021 and up to 1 September 2022
|
YEAR |
TOTAL |
|
2022 |
€15,935.62 |
|
2021 |
€16,154.59 |
|
2020 |
€1,615.21 |
|
Total |
€33,705.42 |
2131. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding will be provided for the provision of dedicated parking for coaches or large buses in either the west or east pier of Howth harbour. [43189/22]
View answerHowth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres (FHCs) which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute.
Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is first and foremost a working fishery harbour. A total of €6.025m has been allocated for capital works in the harbour this year. Further information on this year's programme is available online at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/3030f-minister-mcconalogue-to-invest-35-million-during-2022-in-irelands-six-fishery-harbour-centres/.
Safety and maintenance works are carried out throughout the harbour to benefit all harbour users including pedestrians, fishers, commercial and recreational users. Recent works completed include the installation and maintenance of defined walkways and pedestrian footpaths to separate recreational users from industrial activities, repaving and surfacing of the West Pier, signage and line marking, resurfacing of the lower deck of the East Pier. More general maintenance also takes place on an ongoing basis.
The consideration of parking arrangements for buses or coaches is primarily a matter for the local authority.
2132. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to a report (details suppled) concerning the overestimation of greyhound litter figures in a report compared to actual litter figures made public in an industry publication on 23 January 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43228/22]
View answerRásaíocht 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.
2133. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he plans to open the agri-climate rural environment scheme to applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43288/22]
View answerThe Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is the proposed new agri-environment climate measure which forms part of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), which I am pleased to advise was recently approved by the European Commission.
The approval of the draft CSP was an important step in the process. A number of steps, however, remain to be taken at national level to complete the process. The environmental assessments are being updated and will be completed shortly. These, along with the CSP, will then be brought to Government for final decision in the coming weeks. The CSP will then have completed all EU and national legal and administrative processes, and will enter into force on 1 January 2023.
Subject to completion of the remaining steps, as outlined above, it is proposed that advisors may apply, on behalf of their farmer clients, for ACRES in October/November 2022, and, for those applications which are approved, the associated ACRES contracts will start from 1 January 2023.
My Department has, in the meantime, made available the Farm Sustainability Plan (FSP) portal to enable ACRES advisors begin the process of developing farm plans in preparation for the formal submission of applications.
2134. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement that he has had with the Minister for Education on the matter of school transport since June 2022; and if he will publish any correspondence shared with the Minister for Education on same. [43350/22]
View answerI have made representations to the Minister for Education on the issue of school transport in my capacity as a TD for Donegal through my Donegal constituency office on behalf of constituents who have contacted me on the issue of school transport.
2135. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that his Department has spent on advertising on social media in 2021 and to date in 2022; the amount spent per platform; and the campaigns per platform in tabular form. [43368/22]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provides public information about a wide range of schemes, services and policies. Social media is one of the channels used to communicate this information.
During the period from the beginning of January 2021 until 29 August 2022, the Department spent €3,986.74 (incl. VAT) on advertising on social media, comprised of €3,521.33 on Facebook and €465.41 on Twitter. Outlined below is a breakdown of expenditure by campaign, and by platform for the period requested.
2021 breakdown
|
Campaign |
Platform |
Amount Paid |
|
Animal welfare |
|
491.19 |
|
|
110.70 |
|
|
UN Food Systems Summit |
|
110.70 |
|
Virtual Town Halls - Fisheries |
|
120.13 |
|
Common Agricultural Policy |
|
924.07 |
|
|
244.01 |
|
|
Animal Health Awareness Week |
|
553.50 |
|
Bird flu campaign |
|
227.93 |
|
TOTAL |
2,782.23 |
2022 breakdown
|
Campaign |
Platform |
Amount Paid |
|
Common Agricultural Policy – Information sessions |
|
496.33 |
|
Bird Flu campaign |
|
543.73 |
|
Organic Farming Scheme |
|
164.45 |
|
TOTAL |
1,204.51* |
*Amounts are those which have been invoiced and paid to date in 2022
