Written Answers Nos. 226-245
226. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 567 of 18 September 2024, to outline the methodology used in assessing financing as being sufficient and appropriate to cover the different needs of different forests and woodlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38245/24]
View answerThe Reconstitution Ash Dieback Scheme 2023-2027 includes a 100% increase in the site clearance grant from €1,000 to €2,000 per hectare and considerably enhanced planting grants under seven forest types for the planting of other species, as well as an innovative top up premium for those ash sites still due premiums under the original afforestation scheme.
In determining the site clearance rate, my Department was informed by economic and financial analysis including insights gained from daily engagement with cost-based applications for grant payment for all forestry operations. My Department also engaged with foresters and contractors and discussions around costs incurred and experiences of ash removal were also reflected in the higher payment rate of €2,000 per hectare.
A Task Force has recently been established with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of the Ash Dieback Action Plan. This Task Force comprises officials from my Department and stakeholders including ash forest owners. The Task Force has met twice, discussing each of the recommendations and associated actions and responses. The site clearance grant payment rate has been discussed at both meetings and my Department have informed members that we welcome their feedback on the current costs of ash removal.
227. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the start of the ACRES (geese and swan) which is due to start from 1 October 2024, by two to three weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38273/24]
View answerThe objective of the Geese and Swans action in the ACRES Scheme is to promote the production of an undisturbed foraging area to support overwintering geese and swans. The requirements in relation to this action are stated in the Scheme Specifications, with one of the requirements being that no livestock or machinery operation is to take place on lands from 1st October to 31st March (with the exception of hedge cutting, in the case of grassland parcels, where the hedge cutting may take place up to 31 October).
This requirement is in place as each year, a large influx of waterbird species, including Whooper Swan, Greenland White Fronted Goose, Barnacle Goose and Brent Goose, fly from northerly regions into Ireland for the winter. They arrive in Ireland during the month of September and forage on coastal grasslands, offshore islands and wetlands before gearing up for the return journey north, to breed. The commencement date of the closed period for livestock and machinery operations is required to achieve the objectives of the action and, for this reason, the start date may not be extended as it would negatively impact on such achievement.
228. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in an effort to try and tackle dog theft, he will consider the introduction of compulsory microchip verification by veterinarians during routine visits, to confirm the owner’s name; if he will consider a mechanism to validate the registration status of the owner's address; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38314/24]
View answerMy Department has responsibility for S.I. No 63/2015, the Microchipping of Dogs Regulation 2015 and S.I. 427/2015 - Microchipping of Dogs (Amendment) Regulations 2015. Under these Regulations, all dogs over 12 weeks of age (or younger if sold before 12 weeks) must be microchipped.
It is illegal to sell or supply a dog that is not microchipped. The microchip number must be registered; this helps to ensure the traceability of a dog that strays and improves the chance of return to owner if a dog is stolen. As part of the registration process the owner is required to provide proof of address, such as a utility bill, or other verifiable documentation.
Currently there are no plans to update this legislation.
229. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding that has been allocated to an organisation (details supplied) in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38341/24]
View answerMayo County Council is responsible for the development and maintenance of Purteen Harbour.
My Department provides funding to local authorities for capital works projects for the development and repair of local authority owned piers, harbours and slipways under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme and more recently under the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure (BALAMI) Scheme 2022-2023. The projects to be funded under these programmes are identified by the local authorities and submitted to my Department for review and approval.
In the period 2014 to 2024 a grant of €26,312 was provided by my Department to Mayo County Council in relation to Purteen Harbour under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. This grant was paid in 2021 for remediation works on the slipway and safety improvement works at Purteen Harbour (for which a budget of €33,750 was allocated).
In addition the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (2014-2020) provided support for community-lead local development within 10km of the coast. Applications were assessed and projects were selected for funding by the Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), and the scheme was administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).
In the period in question (2014 - 2024) the local FLAG selected a number of projects submitted for funding by the Purteen Harbour Fisherman's Group and Achill Tourism, both of which operate in the vicinity of Purteen Harbour.
• Achill Tourism received grant aid of €8,597 for interpretive panels
• Purteen Harbour Fisherman's Group received €9,212 in grant aid for scales, cold rooms and a deep freezer. A further €3,676 in aid was provided to this group to support a local festival held at the harbour.
Grant aid to support community-lead local development within 10km of the coast will be available in the coming years under the successor to the EMFF, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027. This will be administered in a similar way, by BIM with support from the FLAGs.
230. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a schedule of all special advisors that are, or were, attached to him, to include Ministers of State special advisors, by grade, duration of role held and point on the pay scale. [38356/24]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to Special Advisers who have served at my Department since I took office is as follows:
|
Special Advisor |
Minister |
From |
To |
Salary Scale |
|
Stiofán Nutty |
Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State |
07/09/2020 |
07/11/2021 |
Principal Officer |
|
Caroline Murphy |
Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State |
07/09/2020 |
01/03/2022 |
Principal Officer |
|
Niall Goodwin |
Martin Heydon T.D., Minister of State |
02/11/2020 |
24/04/2021 |
Assistant Principal Officer |
|
Patrick Donohoe |
Charlie McConalogue T.D. |
09/11/2020 |
02/06/2023 |
Principal Officer |
|
Darran Brennan |
Charlie McConalogue T.D. |
01/12/2020 |
12/10/2023 |
Principal Officer |
|
Barry Cassidy |
Martin Heydon T.D., Minister of State |
19/07/2021 |
Current |
Assistant Principal Officer |
|
Jack O’Donnell |
Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State |
24/01/2022 |
03/04/2024 |
Principal Officer |
|
Declan O’Rourke |
Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State |
01/03/2022 |
Current |
Principal Officer |
|
Amii McKeever |
Charlie McConalogue T.D. |
12/06/2023 |
Current |
Principal Officer |
|
Ciaran O’Donnell |
Charlie McConalogue T.D. |
23/10/2023 |
Current |
Principal Officer |
231. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is an appeals process in relation to the ACRES scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38405/24]
View answerI can confirm that there is an appeals process in relation to the ACRES scheme, as it is one of the schemes listed in the Schedule of the Agriculture Appeals Act, 2001. Participants in ACRES may therefore submit appeals in respect of decisions taken in relation to their participation in the Scheme.
The appeals process in respect of ACRES is outlined in Section 28 of the Scheme Terms and Conditions.
The usual sequence is that participants seek an internal review by my Department of the decision concerned in the first instance. The internal review shall be without prejudice to the right to appeal formally to the Agriculture Appeals Office. So, where a participant is dissatisfied with the outcome of the internal review, they may then formally appeal to the Appeals Office.
232. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to strive to ensure that climate emission targets can be achieved without damage to the agri-food sector, having particular regard to the pivotal role that sector plays in the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38468/24]
View answerThe agriculture sector is a cornerstone of the Irish economy and as the Deputy is aware, last year - 2023, was a year of considerable progress for agriculture with emissions reduced by 4.6% relative to 2022.
This is the largest single year reduction observed in the agriculture sector. Not only does this reflect the efforts that farmers are putting in on the ground, it gives confidence to continue those efforts as we strive to achieve a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for agriculture by 2030 and sustain a viable a agri-food sector.
The commitment of the sector to reducing emissions is supported by this Government through the provision of circa €4.1 billion, in respect of agri-environmental practices under the current Common Agricultural Policy, as well as significant investment in research and development.
My Department has provided support schemes such as Low Emission Slurry Spreading, the Protein Aid, Multi- Species Sward and Red Clover Silage Schemes, to reduce emissions which have received strong uptake by farmers. Proactive engagement by farmers is evidenced by the approval of 55,000 farmers in the ACRES scheme and 120,973 ECO scheme applications for 2024.
The level of organic farming has trebled in thanks to significant increases in funding provided. We have seen a reduction of 18% in nitrogen-based fertiliser in 2023, which has resulted in a cumulative reduction of more than 30% in annual use since 2018.
My Department and agencies are working with farmers to reduce livestock methane emissions. This multifaceted approach includes improving the genetic profile of the National Herd through breeding supports such as the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme and the Dairy Welfare Scheme.
We will continue working together to achieve our environmental targets while maintaining a thriving agri-food sector.
233. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of persons currently employed directly or indirectly in the agri-food sector in each of the past four years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38469/24]
View answerMy Department continually monitors the levels of employment in the agriculture and wider agri-food sector. Employment figures are primarily sourced from the Central Statistics Office's (CSO) quarterly Labour Force Survey.
The agri-food sector is an essential part of the economic and social fabric of Ireland, especially in rural and coastal areas. Irish food is produced by farmers, fishers and agri-food companies around the country and this locally produced food is exported to over 180 countries around the world. In 2023, employment in the agri-food sector was 171,400 people, representing 6.4% of total employment, in Ireland. The table below shows total employment in agri-food in the past four years, by sector.
Table: Thousands of Persons (Aged 15-89) Employed in Agri-Food, 2020-2023
|
Sector / Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing |
104.2 |
109.4 |
103.8 |
107.9 |
|
Manufacture of Food Products |
48.3 |
49.7 |
48.7 |
52.2 |
|
Manufacture of Beverages |
6.7 |
7.8 |
9.1 |
7.3 |
|
Manufacture of Wood and Wood Products |
4.0 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
|
Agri-Food Sector (Total) |
163.1 |
170.9 |
165.6 |
171.4 |
Note: The estimate for the Manufacture of Beverages has a wider margin of error due to a small sample size for this sector in the Labour Force Survey. Employment in Manufacture of Wood and Wood Products is based on the CSO 2022 Census of Population.
The Labour Force Survey is based on the main employment a person reports in the survey. Where a part-time farmer reports their off-farm job as their main employment, they will not be recorded as working in primary agriculture. Teagasc outline in their annual National Farm Survey that up to 42% of farm holders have off-farm employment while 60% of farm holders and/or their spouse has off-farm employment.
It is also important to note that while the overall level of employment from these sectors equates to 6.4% of total employment nationwide, the proportion of employment outside Dublin is much greater. For example, CSO data shows that employment in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (primary producers) accounted for 4.0% of nationwide employment in 2023; however it alone represented 8.8% of employment in the border region and 6.8% in the south-east region.
234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the dairy sector continues to expand worldwide in terms of exports; the plans to enhance this sector in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38470/24]
View answerI remain confident that the outlook for the Irish dairy industry and Irish dairy exports remains very positive. The dairy industry is one of our largest and most profitable sectors. Irish dairy exports exceeded the €6 billion euro mark for the second year in a row last year, making it the largest food and drink export category.
Last year, we exported over 1.6 million tonnes of dairy products to over 140 different countries around the globe. We ship over 85% of our dairy products to the EU and beyond. My Department continues to engage intensively with competent authorities overseas, our Embassy network, Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and industry, to ensure as many markets as possible are available for a broad and balanced range of dairy products.
Huge progress has been made in the last decade in expanding the reach of Irish agri-food exports to consumers worldwide.
Food Vision 2030 includes several actions to develop overseas market opportunities, and envisages a sustainable increase in the value of overall Irish agri-food exports to €21 billion by 2030, driven by increased value rather than volume.
For an export driven sector like dairy, Ministerial led trade missions to our priority markets are a key part of our market access and diversification strategy. These overseas missions allow me to meet key decision-makers on market access requests, to strengthen commercial relationships with industry customers, and to bolster Ireland’s reputation as a trusted supplier of high quality, safe and sustainable dairy products. I recently returned from a trade mission to China and the Republic of Korea, and another trade mission is planned for Vietnam and Thailand in the coming weeks.
Also essential to the development and maintenance of markets outside the EU is the technical work that frequently takes place behind the scenes. Technical negotiations with importing countries, including inward visits and inspection by their competent authorities, are typically a lengthy and multifaceted process.
Selling into international markets is challenging but developing and diversifying new markets, while maintaining existing markets continues to be a top priority for my Department, in cooperation with Bord Bia.
235. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which, in comparison with other agri-food producing countries throughout the globe, Ireland continues to make progress towards achieving targets for emission reductions, with particular reference to competing jurisdictions that are doing better or worse than Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38471/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the agriculture sector has committed to reducing emissions by 25% by 2030 based on an emissions baseline of 23MT CO2 eq in 2018.
It is clear that we are on the right track and that the sector is rising to the challenge. We saw a reduction of 4.6% in emissions from agriculture in 2023. This is attributed to the work done at farm level, supported by my Department through the provision of €4.1 billion, in respect of agri-environmental practices under the current Common Agricultural Policy and through actions set out in the Climate Action Plan.
Agriculture is a core component of the Irish economy, the Climate Action Plan has set a pathway that has reduced the use of chemical nitrogen by over 30% in the last number of years, we are reducing methane emissions through improved genetic profiling of the national herd and increasing organic farming to the point of being halfway to achieving the 2030 target of 450,000 ha of farmed organic land.
My Department has committed almost €53 million towards climate research and innovation in agriculture in the last ten years.
In addition, over €14 million has been awarded to projects under the Ireland – New Zealand agriculture and climate joint research initiative by my Department and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries since it began in 2022. A further set of projects will be announced for funding later this year.
We are members of the international ‘Enteric Fermentation R&D Accelerator’, having committed €5m. This initiative, led by the Global Methane Hub, will accelerate the research in areas such as animal breeding and genetics, feed additives and other technologies for mitigating emissions of methane from livestock.
Through this work my Department is ensuring that Ireland can achieve our climate targets and work with other countries to develop and adopt best practices and secure Ireland’s reputation as producer of world class agri-food products.
236. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which a specific plan for the pig meat industry continues in this country; the progress being made in this particular area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38472/24]
View answerThe continued development of the pigmeat sector is a priority for the Government, given the pivotal role the industry plays in the national economic context.
The sector supports approximately 8,000 jobs spanning production, slaughter, processing, feed manufacture and services.
Gaining new market access and enhancing access to existing markets for Irish pigmeat exports is integral to my Department’s strategic approach to the development of the agri-food sector generally. Ministerial led trade missions to priority markets, as well as technical meetings and inward visits and inspections, are a key part of our market development and market access strategy, in cooperation with Bord Bia and our embassy network.
The success of the Department's market access efforts is reflected in CSO trade statistics which show that Ireland exported pigmeat to almost 70 countries last year, with the top five destinations (in volume) being China, The United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany and Japan. Cumulatively, these five destinations accounted for 74% of total pigmeat exports, in volume terms, in 2023.
My Department also engages with stakeholders through the Food Vision Pig Group, which Includes representatives from the farming and processing sectors, Teagasc, Bord Bia, and Department officials.
Teagasc has intensified its dedicated, ongoing advisory supports being provided to pig farmers and is actively engaging with pig farmers to explore the options available to them.
My Department continues to monitor the market situation including production costs in the sector and continues to engage at EU level to ensure a joined-up EU approach to the challenges arising from Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.
As in other meat sectors, global trade conditions will be crucial in determining the outlook for the Irish pigmeat sector over the medium to longer term.
I firmly believe that the pig meat sector in Ireland remains competitive and in recognition of its important role to the economy, I have, over the last few years provided significant support to ensure it remains viable.
237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he can confirm the future of the beef industry in this country, with particular reference to production conditions, husbandry, processing, breeding and market presentation; the extent to which the industry will prevail in this regard in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38473/24]
View answerI am very confident that the outlook for the Irish beef industry is positive. Irish beef exports amounted to almost 476,000 tonnes and were worth almost €3 billion in 2023. The vast bulk of these exports are shipped to high-value markets in the UK and the EU, notably France, Netherlands, Italy & Germany.
While the EU will continue to be the dominant market for Irish beef exports, third country destinations such as the UK and Japan also provide important outlets for Irish beef.
My commitment to primary beef production is evident in the sector specific supports which I have introduced during my tenure as Minister. I have delivered on my commitment to secure €200 / per suckler cow through the introduction of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) and the Beef Welfare Scheme.
Participants in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) receive a payment equivalent to €150/cow on the first 22 cows and €120 per cow on subsequent cows. Farmers participating in the Beef Welfare Scheme who complete the meal feeding and vaccination actions will receive €50 – subject to a maximum of 40 calves. This scheme will promote best practice in calf nutrition and herd health.
Therefore, participants in both schemes who correctly complete all the required actions are eligible to receive a payment of €200 for the first 22 cow / calf pairs and €170 for the next 18 calves. Both scheme measures will act to optimise animal performance throughout its lifetime.
All supports, whether EU co-funded or exchequer-funded, along with adequate market returns will ensure that our beef farmers will continue to produce the raw material to enable the industry to compete successfully overseas.
At the other end of the production cycle, I have led Ministerial trade missions all around the world together with my Ministerial colleagues in the Department to promote opportunities for our agri-food sector including, of course, beef exports.
In line with the ambitious strategy set out in Food Vision 2030, my present and future focus is on developing more market opportunities at home and abroad while providing targeted measures to support the competitiveness and productivity of primary producers.
238. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to ensure the viability of the fishing industry for the benefit of families dependent on the industry; the extent to which further action is required in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38474/24]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that my Department constantly monitors the needs of the fisheries sector. In addition to meeting representatives of the sector, holding formal consultations and attending public forums, we monitor developments in key economic indicators.
I established the Seafood Task Force in 2021 to examine the impacts of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) on our fishing sector and coastal communities and to recommend mitigation measures.
On foot of the recommendations of the Task Force, I secured funding for a total of sixteen schemes for the seafood sector with a total budget allocation in excess of €300 million, funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR). These schemes provided support for development and restructuring to ensure Ireland has a seafood sector that is as profitable and sustainable as it possibly can be, and to identify new opportunities for jobs and economic activity in coastal communities.
In addition to the measures recommended by the Task Force, my Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Programme provided funding to the sector from 2016 to the end of 2023, supporting the sustainable development of our seafood sector.
That Programme has now concluded and has been succeeded by the new Seafood Development Programme under the European Maritime Aquaculture and Fisheries Fund (EMFAF) 2021-27 which was adopted by the European Commission in December 2022.
The new €258 million EMFAF Operational Programme will continue the provision of a wide range of financial supports to fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing enterprises and to enterprises, groups and individuals in coastal communities. These will include supports for capital investment, innovation, professional advisory services and marketing.
I formally launched the EMFAF 2021-27 programme in February this year at the Skipper Expo.
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Marine Institute and Bord Bia have been implementing work programmes funded under EMFAF, which provide a wide range of supports necessary for the ongoing development of the sector, such as data collection, research and the promotion and marketing of Irish seafood.
In June and July I announced the opening of schemes for industry, funded under the Irish EMFAF Programme:
• The Inshore Fisheries Scheme: This scheme provides targeted supports for the small-scale coastal fishing vessels, which are registered fishing vessels under 12 metres in length who do not use towed gear. Enhanced grant intensity rates of between 80% and 100% will be provided to these vessels to support both on-board and on-shore investment, and for participation in conservation measures. Other registered inshore fishing vessels will continue to have the opportunity to participate in conservation measures under this scheme also.
• A related lobster V-notching Scheme has also been opened, which will continue the good work done under previous V-notching schemes to improve the sustainability of this fishery, which is of significant importance to the inshore fishing fleet in particular.
• The Sustainable Fisheries Scheme provides support to all registered fishing vessels (other than the small scale coastal fishing vessels) for on-board investment. Both the Inshore Fisheries Scheme and the Sustainable Fisheries Scheme support investment by fishing vessels in more selective gear that reduces catches of juvenile and/or over quota species, with the ultimate aim of improving the sustainability of fisheries.
• The Seafood Processing Capital Investment Scheme provides important support for capital investment in the seafood processing sector. It will continue and build on the supports provided to the sector over the course of 2022 and 2023 under the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme, funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR), where industry received over €30 million in funding for capital investment in this sector
• The Aquaculture Capital Investment Scheme provides support to aquaculture operators for capital investment to promote environmentally sustainable aquaculture activities and strengthen the competitiveness of aquaculture production
• The Seafood Training Scheme supports the development of skills and knowledge across the Fisheries, Aquaculture and Seafood Processing sectors
• The Young Fishers Scheme provides support to persons under 40, who have 5 years+ experience and/or relevant training, to assist them in purchasing their first vessel. Grant aid up to 40% of the cost of the vessel can be accessed under this scheme, subject to a maximum payment of €250,000. There are some restrictions regarding the age and length of vessels which may be purchased under this scheme.
In August, I announced a new scheme to support the economic development of the inshore fleet, the Inshore Fleet Economic Assessment Scheme, which will gather data on key areas including market and economic factors such as fish prices, market access and chains; social and institutional factors such as transport and logistics, credit and financial services; socio-economic and demographic data; and technological and innovative practices. This new detailed information, along with the previous 2023 inshore census data, will provide valuable information to ensure that supports and services are being focused in the areas where they will be most effective, and help inshore fishers navigate challenges, setting them up for future success.
Further schemes are being developed to support the Producer Organisations, and to support community-lead local development within 10km of the coast via the Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs). A seafood innovation scheme is also being developed, which will be administer by BIM. The Implementation Plans required to underpin the schemes which have opened were finalised following the required procedures of the EMFAF Monitoring Committee, whose membership includes industry stakeholders. Likewise, Implementation Plans to underpin any new schemes will also be subject to the same procedures.
Details of all schemes are available on the BIM website www.bim.ie
My Department also funds BIM, which is the state agency responsible for development of the Seafood sector. BIM works closely with industry and all of the recognised representative groups, actively supporting the development of the sector in a myriad of ways. Further information on the work of BIM is available on BIM's website at BIM - Supporting the Irish Seafood Industry. BIM will receive funding in excess of €22 million from my Department in 2024 to support its work.
I can assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to addressing the challenges facing our seafood sector.
239. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which conditions in the poultry industry continue to be lucrative from the producer's point of view; the degree to which efforts are ongoing to ensure the sustainability of the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38475/24]
View answerAs in other meat sectors, global trade conditions will be crucial in determining the outlook for the Irish poultry sector over the medium to longer term.
My Department continues to monitor the markets for any impacts on the agri-food sector in this regard.
I am acutely aware of the pressures being faced by many in the agri-food sector due to the increase in input costs, exacerbated by the impact of the illegal war in Ukraine.
Poultry is normally reared under contract to processors, for a pre-agreed price, and therefore poultry producers are not typically subject to the same price fluctuations as other farmers.
Securing market access and diversifying trade remains a key aim for my Department and developing market opportunities at home and abroad is one of the goals of Food Vision 2030.
2024 has shown signs of growth in overall poultry production with slaughter figures, as of Week 35 of 2024, up by 2.8% on the same period of 2023 and if current weekly trends continue, the overall slaughter figures for 2024, could exceed 114m birds.
The most recent comparable monthly price (August 2024), would also indicate strong performance within the Sector, with the August 2024 price for Whole 'Class A' Chicken, being approximately 7.99% higher than the price being achieved 12 months previous.
According to CSO figures, the UK (€206.2m) accounted for 72.2% of 2023 total exports in terms of value. The Netherlands (€22.4m), France (€12.1m) Germany (€7.6m) and Spain (€7.3m) also featured prominently as export destinations in 2023 and these countries accounted for almost 90% of total Irish poultry meat exports last year by value.
I am also very aware of the contribution of the poultry production sector to Irish agri-food as a whole, supporting significant levels of direct employment and contributing to the rural economy. I firmly believe that the poultry production sector in Ireland is in a strong position.
240. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which markets remain lucrative throughout Europe and further afield for Irish lamb and lamb products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38476/24]
View answerIrish sheepmeat was exported to more than 30 markets last year, which is testament to the world-class product produced on our farms.
The introduction of the Sheep Improvement Scheme in 2023 combined with the rollout of the National Sheep Welfare Scheme in 2024 demonstrates my commitment to supporting sheep farmers. Between the support I have provided under these two schemes, €20 per ewe is available to sheep farmers in 2024, the highest payment ever made to this important sector.
Sheep production is a vital source of income for many farmers, particularly in upland areas, and provided the raw material for the export of over 65,000 tonnes of sheepmeat worth €420m last year.
Approximately 15% of the sheepmeat produced in Ireland is consumed domestically, with the balance being exported.
The EU market remains the primary outlet for Irish sheepmeat, accounting for the bulk of sheepmeat exports in both value and volume terms. Within the single market, France is the largest market and was worth €134m in 2023. Other important EU markets, in order of magnitude, were Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium and Italy. These six markets combined accounted for almost €300m in exports; equivalent to 71 percent of the total value of sheepmeat exports in 2023 and 66 percent of total volume.
Underpinning the Food Vision 2030 goal of developing and diversifying market outlets for meat exports are the support measures provided by my Department to improve the competitiveness and productivity of primary producers.
As noted, in April of this year I launched the National Sheep Welfare Scheme which is worth €15m and provides an additional €8 per ewe payment to sheep farmers and compliments the multi-annual Sheep Improvement Scheme funded under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) until 2027. Other interventions available to the sheep sector under the CSP are ACRES, TAMS and the Organic Farming Scheme organisations.
Bolstered by these supports, Irish sheep farmers can continue to produce a safe, sustainable, high-quality product that is in demand across many global markets.
I will continue to support sheepmeat exports through targeted supports for producers, trade mission and other activities to expand market access and the funding of Bord Bia marketing campaigns nationally and internationally.
241. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which animal diseases such as bovine TB continue to be eliminated in a meaningful way; the extent to which any breakdowns have occurred by region in the past two years to date; the efforts being made to identify the causes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38477/24]
View answerBovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. I am committed to making real progress in eradicating TB because I am acutely aware of the emotional and financial trauma associated with a TB breakdown for farmers.
As the spread of this disease is multifactorial, it is being fought on many fronts. The TB programme in each county focuses on factors including wildlife, how disease is spread in the area, contiguous testing programmes, gamma interferon testing, cleansing and disinfection, testing compliance and swift isolation and removal of reactors.
Each TB outbreak is investigated by a veterinary inspector to identify the source of infection. In the case of every outbreak involving two or more standard reactors, there is a veterinary visit to advise the herdowner on how to eliminate infection and measures necessary to help reduce the risk of recurrence. Emphasis is placed on the biosecurity measures a farmer can take to reduce risks on their farm, and when buying in animals.
Ireland's bovine TB Eradication Programme is guided by national and international scientific research and advice. A large body of peer-reviewed research has been conducted into the spread of TB in Ireland and the risks underlying its transmission. This research has found that the principal causes of TB introduction and spread include:
• movement of infected cattle with undetected infection.
• residual infection in cattle previously exposed to TB.
• spread across farm boundaries from infected cattle to uninfected cattle.
• indirect spread through other biosecurity breaches, and/or
• spread from infected badgers to uninfected cattle.
This research has recently been reviewed by the Bovine TB Stakeholder Forum - Scientific Working Group, which comprises a panel of internationally recognised experts in TB research.
Whilst significant progress has been made in some areas of the TB programme, there are other areas where further progress needs to be made.
As of 22 September 2024, on a 12-month rolling basis, national herd incidence is 5.6% compared to 4.74% at the same time in 2023. In the past 12 months 5,695 TB Herds were subject to restriction, compared to 4,885 in the previous 12-month period.
The attached file shows TB Statistical figures for the year 2022, 2023 and rolling year to date 2024, for the number of herds restricted, the herd incidence and the number of reactors by county.
TBStatistical figures for the year 2022-2024 in bovines
The details of the new TB Strategy along with the results of the review are available on www.bovinetb.ie
242. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the state of disrepair of Purteen Harbour, which a group (details supplied) has been established to advocate for; if he will meet with representatives of the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38489/24]
View answerPurteen Harbour is the responsibility of Mayo County Council. The responsibility for the development and maintenance of local authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each local authority in the first instance. The primary governance role for local authorities rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and any wider funding issues for local authorities should be addressed to that Minister.
In January 2022, I launched the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure (BALAMI) Scheme 2022-2023 exclusively for the rejuvenation of local authority owned public piers and harbours. Mayo County Council was allocated funding for 8 projects, all of which were delivered with support of €979,000 from the scheme. The projects put forward were identified and prioritised by the local authorities themselves. Mayo County Council did not put forward a project for Purteen Harbour.
Prior to the Brexit-focused scheme, my Department provided funding to carry out small scale projects for the development and repair of local authority owned piers, harbours and slipways under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. In 2021, Mayo County County received funding of €26,000 for remediation works on the slipway and safety improvement works at Purteen Harbour. Mayo County Council received €109,000 over the period 2010-2020 in respect of repair and development works in 2012 at Purteen Harbour.
Any future supports that may be made available to support local authority capital investment in piers and harbours will be made in consideration of available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.
243. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when farmers who are members of ACRES will be paid; when his Department will issue outstanding scores to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38490/24]
View answerBalancing payments in respect of participation in ACRES in 2023 started to issue in mid-June 2024. Payments in full have now been issued to 38,701 participants. Payments will continue to issue on a regular basis as cases pass all required validations.
With regard to scorecards, a summary report on the scores assigned is issued to all participants following the processing of their payment. The scorecard summary will set out the scores achieved for each parcel, with management tips on how to maintain or improve the score achieved, and hence potentially increase payments in subsequent years. These summaries are made available to farmers in the document manager in their AgFood account, followed by a hard copy by post. Scorecards have now issued to 35,000 farms across the two tranches of the scheme.
ACRES advance payments in respect of participation in the Scheme in 2024 are scheduled to commence in November 2024, with the process informed by, and benefiting from, the experience gained from the processing of the 2023 scheme year payments.
244. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to report on the integrity of the scientific advice behind the closure of pollack fishery; and whether his Department has conducted a review into the impact of the closure decision on island and inshore fishing communities. [38491/24]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the advice on fish stocks, including Pollack, published by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) forms the basis of the scientific advice used by the European Commission in proposing Total Allowable Catches (TACs). The ICES advice for Pollack in ICES Areas 6-7 (the waters around Ireland) for 2024 was for zero catch.
Following the conclusion of the EU-UK negotiations on 2024 fishing opportunities for shared stocks, the parties agreed on a limited, by-catch only TAC for Pollack in Areas 6-7 to avoid a "choke" situation which would lead to the premature closure of whitefish fisheries where Pollack is caught as a by-catch. Given the scientific advice for this stock, the need to balance socio-economic considerations with achieving good biological status for stocks, and taking into account the challenges of managing mixed fisheries, setting a by-catch only TAC is the most appropriate approach.
As the ICES advice for Pollack in ICES Areas 6-7 for 2025 is again for zero catch, I will be seeking that a similar approach be taken in the EU-UK negotiations on 2025 fishing opportunities.
Ireland is actively involved with the scientific research to improve the understanding of Pollack. The Marine Institute is taking a leading role in the next ICES benchmark process for this stock, which will be completed in the spring of 2025. An alternative assessment model, one which uses additional sources of data, will be evaluated as part of this process.
While the preliminary results indicate that this extra information does not change the perception of the stock, the new model will give a more precise estimate of the state of the stock and improve short-term forecasts that determine when the target fishery could re-open.
In addition, the Marine Institute is actively working with scientists from the UK and France on a number of fronts, including genetic analysis of Pollack stock structure and analysing historic data from commercial fisheries, recreational fisheries and scientific surveys.
All vessels under 55 feet in length, including those in inshore and island fishing communities, receive the same catch limit for whitefish. For the month of October, all vessels, regardless of size, have access to an open fishery for Spurdog. Pelagic stocks of mackerel and herring also have allocations made available, in accordance with Ministerial National policy, supporting smaller vessels, including those in inshore and island fishing communities. The Department will continue to work with the island and inshore fisheries communities to manage the impacts of the Pollack restrictions.
245. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide detail on the dedicated funding which will be made available for the upcoming tranche of the organic farming scheme. [38492/24]
View answerThe Organic Farming Scheme was allocated funding of €56 million in the last CAP over the period 2014-2020. In the new CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027, funding of €256 million has been allocated - virtually a five fold increase.
Along with increased advisory, marketing and processor supports, this has driven a trebling of the area farmed organically in the last three years, to 225,000 hectares, or 5% of Ireland's utilisable agricultural area.
Negotiations around next year's budget are continuing and details will be announced on budget day.
