Tuesday, 13 Dec 2022

Written Answers Nos. 665-679

Animal Welfare

Questions (665)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

665. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of the 2021 equine census figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61758/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The 2021 equine census was the first such census undertaken by my Department.

It was was initiated to comply with the EU requirement for each Member States to record the habitual residence of each equine resident in the State, on its central equine database.

The undertaking of an equine census on an annual basis confirms the Department's commitment to the Programme for Government objective to prioritise equine welfare through improved traceability. This linking of horses to their habitual residence will allow my Department to manage animal and public health concerns as well as lost or straying horses with greater ease, by recording more current details of the responsible keeper.

In 2021, responses were received from some 12,500 registered keepers who recorded over 58,000 equines kept on census night. Since last year, the Department has made a number of improvements to the online census portal in an effort to improve keeper experience and to increase 2022 response rates. In this regard, keepers who responded to the census in 2021 are provided with the option of using their 2021 data as a base for completing their 2022 census. Individual passport numbers can be deleted or added, as necessary. This removes the requirement for the physical entry of each 15-digit identification number, where the equines in question continue to reside on the holding.

The 2022 equine census took place on Wednesday 30th November. Early indications are that online engagement has increased compared to the position at the same time in 2021. The closing date for receipt of 2022 returns is Friday 16th December.

Forestry Sector

Questions (666, 671)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

666. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers whose existing forestry is affected by ash dieback can access compensation or other financial support under the reconstitution and underplanting scheme; if he intends to support these farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61786/22]

Seán Canney

Question:

671. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the compensation plans that his Department is putting in place to support farmers whose forest has been affected by ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61831/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 666 and 671 together.

Since the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland, the Department has provided support totalling over €7 million to owners of ash plantations impacted by ash dieback disease through the ash dieback reconstitution scheme (introduced in 2013) and more recently via the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (Ash Dieback) introduced in July 2020.

The current scheme provides 100% grant aid to landowners to clear their ash crop, replant with an alternate species and manage their forest until successfully established. For sites undergoing reconstitution, Forest Owners are able to choose to replant with a number of proposed Forest Types and the grant rates offered correspond to the equivalent rate offered in the Afforestation Scheme. If Forest Owners are still in receipt of premiums for their forests through the Afforestation Scheme they are paid at the premium rate that is equivalent to the Forest Type that they opt to replant with.

I have secured a package of €1.3 billion for forestry which will support the biggest and best-funded Forestry Programme to date in Ireland and it is intended to continue to offer the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme through the next Forestry Programme which will cover the period from 2023-2027.

The Programme, and the Forestry Strategy, which is the framework within which it operates, has recently closed a public consultation from which we are currently collating and reviewing the feedback received, and this in turn will inform the final versions.

I have, of course, met with landowners whose forests have ash dieback and I am more than aware of their concerns and I will continue to work to address them.

Forestry Sector

Questions (667)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

667. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has engaged with the EU Commission regarding the forestry programme that is due to commence in January 2023; if the Commission has expressed any concerns in relation to same; if State aid approval has been agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61800/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

As the Deputy is aware, the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 requires State Aid to implement. Minister of State, Pippa Hackett met with Commissioners Virginijus Sinkevicius and Janusz Wojciechowski earlier this year to update them on Irish forestry, particularly the extensive public consultation undertaken on the Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050 and the subsequent development of the new Forest Strategy and Forestry Programme.

The current State Aid Guidelines in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas are due to expire on 31 December 2022 and be replaced with a revised version expected in January 2023. A formal application for State Aid cannot be submitted until these revised guidelines are in place. My Department is engaged with the Commission, who have facilitated the submission of a pre-notification for this State Aid in November, ahead of the formal submission for January 2023.

The Department continues to engage bi-laterally with the relevant Directorate-Generals in the Commission in order to advance the State Aid approval.

Forestry Sector

Questions (668)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

668. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the recourse that is available to forestry licence applicants who seek a review of a district inspector's decision, if such a review has not been conducted within 12months of the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61801/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Agriculture Appeals Act, 2001, was amended by the Forestry Act 2014 to include a new Section 14A which provides for an appeals service against decisions on forestry licence applications.The legislation led to the establishment of the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) in 2018. The Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) provides an appeals service where, if a person is dissatisfied with a decision on a Forestry licence application, they may submit an appeal against a decision on a licence, concerning the following: afforestation, felling, forest road works, aerial fertilisationAppeals must be submitted by post on a notice of appeal form and the fee of €200 must accompany the notice of appeal otherwise the appeal will not be accepted. The postal address is Forestry Appeals Committee, Agriculture Appeals Office, Kilminchy Court, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32 DTW5. The Notice of Appeal Form must be signed by the Appellant. FAC appeals forms can be found here: Agriculture Appeals Office - Forestry Appeals Committee (agriappeals.gov.ie)Any decisions issued are subject to the statutory 14-day deadline i.e. the FAC Notice of Appeal Form must be received by the FAC along with the €200 fee within 14 days of the decision.

Forestry Sector

Questions (669)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

669. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is compulsory for ecology reports to accompany forestry licence applicants; if not, if his Department has a policy on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61802/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Ecology reports are not mandatory at application stage but may be required based on the nature and location of an individual application.

When the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) receives a forestry licence application, amongst other things, my officials carry out an Appropriate Assessment 'screening' to assess if there is a possibility of the proposed forestry project having an effect, either individually or in combination with other plans or projects on a European site.

It is normal in the planning system where applications are “screened-in” for Appropriate Assessment for the planning body to request a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) from the applicant. In early 2020 I introduced legislation that allowed DAFM to carry out Appropriate Assessment Reports thereby relieving the applicant of the burden of providing NISs. It is now rare for DAFM to request a NIS from private applicants across all licence types.

Depending on the site in question an ecology report may be sought from the applicant to deal with specific issues that may come up on any given site. For example, an ecology report could involve a bird survey to ascertain if a site is used by a certain species of bird.

Fishing Industry

Questions (670)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

670. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way that the fisheries sector has been strengthened and developed since 27 June 2020. [61811/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Since 27 June 2020, there has been ongoing investment in our fisheries sector, primarily through the EMFF Seafood Development Programme 2014-2020. The Programme provides for funding for fishers and for other parts of the seafood supply chain. It also provides for funding for public interest fisheries projects which aim to protect our marine environment so that fishing opportunities exist for years to come, while also exploring novel ways to increase productivity and profitability of our seafood sector. In 2020 the Programme invested €32.47 million in Ireland’s seafood sector while in 2021 a further €26.82 million was invested. This programme is approaching its conclusion and nearly all available funds have been exhausted.

In the wake of the Trade and Co-Operation Agreement, I quickly established the Seafood Task Force to make recommendations on how best to support the seafood sector and coastal communities to adjust to the post-Brexit environment. Its deliberations resulted in 16 recommendations outlining supports worth €423 million. The majority of these recommendations were for supports for fishers, with additional supports proposed for other parts of the seafood supply chain. Based on these recommendations, I have already announced €225 million worth of supports and investment programmes. This includes expanding schemes, such as the 2022 tie-up scheme, to assist fishers in surviving the increasingly challenging and volatile operating environment which has emerged in 2022. It also includes a decommissioning scheme which will allow for a restructuring of the fleet so it can better align with available fishing opportunities. Schemes directed at other parts of the seafood sector will also ensure stronger and greater added value markets for Irish caught seafood and ensure greater employment prospects within our coastal communities.

These initial schemes are leveraging the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. However, the Task Force envisaged that the new Seafood Development Programme also be utilised to ensure longer term supports are developed. In September of this year, my Department’s EMFAF Seafood Development Programme was approved by Government. This is a larger programme than its predecessor, with up to €258 million in funding available for further investment in the sector.

In addition to direct supports to fishers, investment has been provided for necessary infrastructure development to support fishing activities. In 2020, €16.4m was invested under the 2020 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme though this programme was announced prior to the formation of the current Government. The Programme invests into the six Fishery Harbour Centres (Killybegs, Ros an Mhíl, An Daingean, Castletownbere, Dunmore East and Howth) and infrastructure owned by the Local Authorities . Under the 2021 programme, €26.2m of funding was invested into the ongoing development of Ireland’s publicly owned harbour network. In 2022, almost €33.5m will be invested to modernise the facilities provided in the Fishery Harbour Centres. On 7th December, I announced that a total of €55.3m is being made available for 164 projects under the Brexit Adjustment: Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme (BALAMI) 2022 – 2023. This scheme was designed to help the seafood sector adapt to the impacts of Brexit though modernised public marine facilities. These investments demonstrate this Government’s serious commitment to supporting the fishing industry and rural coastal communities.

These initiatives combined are not only resulting in a significant injection of funding into the fisheries sector, but also ensure long term sustainability in terms of both business and environment, and are resulting in greater levels of resilience to the challenges that have arisen and may arise within the operating environment.

Question No. 671 answered with Question No. 666.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (672)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

672. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has plans to introduce a new scheme for farmers who did not qualify for installation aid (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61859/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In recognition of the withdrawal of the Installation Aid Scheme in October 2008, and following my Department’s consultation with the EU Commission, the then Minister announced in March 2015 that the group commonly known as ‘Old Young Farmers’, who established their holding between 1st January 2008 and 31st December 2009, and who, due to the timeframe of setting up their holding did not benefit from either the Installation Aid or the Young Farmer category of the National Reserve, could be considered as a ‘group suffering from specific disadvantage’. The result was that this group was eligible to apply under the National Reserve measure of the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme. Successful applicants under this category received an allocation of payment entitlements on land on which they held no entitlements, and a top-up to the national average value on existing entitlements that were below the national average.

Separately, the group commonly known as the ‘Forgotten Farmers’ comprises farmers aged under 40 in 2015, who established their holdings prior to 2008. I have committed to helping the cohort of farmers known as forgotten farmers. The details of the eligibility requirements and benefits to successful applicants for any scheme to support the forgotten farmer group are being finalised. I am committed to supporting this cohort of farmers who find themselves in this situation, in many cases, through no fault of their own. The eligibility requirements and other scheme details will be made available as soon as this process has been completed.

Company Law

Questions (673)

Paul Murphy

Question:

673. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an organisation (details supplied) has an exception that would allow it to breach company law, given that it is a legal requirement of any company limited by guarantee, which said organisation is, to maintain a full register of members and there is currently no register of members for the organisation; and if the organisation has an exemption. [61903/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.

The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for HRI, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (674)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

674. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined [61967/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Deputy will be aware that on 15th June 2022, I announced the launch of the €56 million Fodder Support Scheme 2022, which aimed to incentivise farmers, in particular drystock farmers, to grow more fodder (silage and/or hay) for winter 2022. This is to ensure that Ireland does not have any animal welfare issue over this winter and next spring.

The online application system for the Fodder Support Scheme 2022 opened on 17th June 2022 and closed on 27th August 2022. The Department has examined the relevant records and has confirmed that no application was received from the Herd Number provided by the Deputy, The Herd Number provided appears to be incorrect. A Draft Application for the Fodder Support Scheme 2022 was created by the individual referred to under a similar herd number.

As part of the 2022 Fodder Support Scheme online application process, all applicants had to acknowledge that if they did not click the submit button at the end of the application, then they had not applied for the Scheme. All herd owners registered with the Department to receive text messages were contacted prior to the Scheme closing date to advise them where their application was still at "draft status" and that further action was necessary to apply for the Scheme.

The Fodder Support Scheme 2023, which was open to successful applicants of the 2022 Scheme, closed for applications on 5th December 2022.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (675)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

675. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm receipt of an application (details supplied) and to advise when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61997/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I can confirm that there was an application submitted for the person named for the ACRES scheme. The scheme is over-subscribed with 46,000 applicants. I am delighted to see such a strong response to ACRES. This shows clearly how engaged and ambitious our farm families are for embracing the climate and biodiversity challenge.

ACRES has proven to be a strong and farmer-friendly scheme which has caught the imagination of the farming public. Regarding the large number of applications, I will examine all options open to me and seek to bring clarity to the situation shortly.

Animal Welfare

Questions (676)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

676. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cases that have been taken section 38A of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 in relation to costs incurred in respect of seizing and keeping the animal during its detention; and the amount of costs paid. [62019/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Since the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 came into operation in March 2014, 121 individuals have been successfully prosecuted. Fines in excess of €109,350 have been imposed.

Thirteen persons have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment which were suspended in 11 cases. One person was given 240 hours of community service in lieu of six months imprisonment. The Probation Act was applied in 11 instances.

Twenty-five persons have been disqualified from keeping animals under section 58 of the Act.

The Department has not sought to recover costs under section 38A of the Act since the 2019 amendment was introduced. Local authorities also have the power to recoup costs under this section. I refer the Deputy to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage who may have further information.

Greyhound Industry

Questions (677)

Johnny Mythen

Question:

677. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding that went to the Enniscorthy greyhound track from the horse and greyhound racing funds from 2016 to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62022/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

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.

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.

Agriculture Supports

Questions (678)

Michael Creed

Question:

678. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will indicate the level of grant-aid that is available for on farm production facilities in terms of capital grants for non-mainstream dairy and beef operations which have an established export potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62137/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

TAMS has proven to be a really important and popular scheme which has driven important farm investments. To date, expenditure under TAMS II has exceeded €386m. Payments under the TAMS II scheme continue to issue on an ongoing basis. TAMS continues to be a hugely successful and beneficial scheme, and it will continue in 2023 in a bigger and better way with a stronger emphasis on environmental investments.

Buffalo milk production is treated the same as any other dairy enterprise. They are entitled to apply for investments under the Animal Welfare Safety and Nutrient Storage System (AWNSS) and Dairy Equipment Scheme (DES) of TAMS II and receive grant aid at 40% and if they are a qualified Young Farmer, they are also eligible to apply to the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS) and receive grant aid at 60%.

Dairy farmers will continue to be included in TAMS 3 schemes from 2023 onwards. There will also be some changes including a proposed resetting of the investment ceiling to €90,000 and proposed increased grant rates for specified investments that will form part of TAMS 3. The terms and conditions of the scheme and the investment list for grant-aided items are currently being finalised.

Fishing Industry

Questions (679)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

679. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify if EU financial subsidies for Irish fishermen are aligned to the periods that fish are spawning each year in waters around our coast as well as for periods of bad weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62148/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

EU funding for fishers over the past number of years was primarily sourced from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) 2014-2020 and delivered through my Department’s Seafood Development Programme. The €239 million Programme is co-funded by the EU and Government, and was developed to deliver on Union Priorities established in the EMFF regulation (Regulation (EU) No 508/2014). For fishers this is primarily delivered through Union Priority 1 and Union Priority 4. The schemes and supports delivered under the Programme were based on a needs analysis and on public and statutory consultation carried out for the initial development of the Programme and in the context of the aforementioned Union Priorities. The emphasis of the programme is on developmental supports and on the transition to sustainable fishing rather than the subsidising of fishing activities. Funding provided under the programme included, but was not limited to, investment on vessels to improve sustainability and safety, and assistance to allow younger fishers to acquire their first vessel. The Programme also funded a wide array of other projects in the Seafood Sector, including public interest projects, marine infrastructure and developmental support for seafood enterprises and coastal communities.

With EMFF drawing to a conclusion, my Department developed the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Seafood Development Programme which will succeed the previous programme and provide ongoing support to fishers and the seafood sector up to 2027. This is a larger programme than its predecessor, with up to €258 million in funding available. Similar to the Programme developed under EMFF, it has been developed in the context of Union Priorities established by regulation (Regulation (EU) 2021/1139) which, among other aims, seeks to foster sustainable fisheries and restore and conserve aquatic biological resources.

Outside of these funds, I have also acted to leverage the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. In the wake of the Trade and Co-Operation Agreement, I quickly established the Seafood Task Force to make recommendations on how best to support the seafood sector and coastal communities to adjust to the post-Brexit environment. Its deliberations resulted in 16 recommendations outlining supports worth €423 million. The majority of these recommendations were for supports for fishers, with additional supports proposed for other parts of the seafood supply chain. Based on these recommendations, I have already announced €225 million worth of supports and investment programmes. This includes expanding schemes, such as the 2022 tie-up scheme, to assist fishers in surviving the increasingly challenging and volatile operating environment which has emerged in 2022. It also includes a decommissioning scheme which will allow for a restructuring of the fleet so it can better align with available fishing opportunities. Schemes directed at other parts of the seafood sector will also ensure stronger and greater added value markets for Irish caught seafood and ensure greater employment prospects within our coastal communities. It is important to stress that these are not subsidies for fishing activities, but a combination of supports to compensate for the negative impacts on the sector due to the TCA, provide short term supports to enable the fleet to adjust to the post-Brexit environment and provide developmental supports to achieve transformational change within our seafood sector, and developed within the objectives established by the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Regulation.