Written Answers Nos. 822-841
822. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a TAMs grant payment approval inspection in respect of a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44118/24]
View answerThe person named submitted three applications in July under tranche 4 of the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme of TAMS 3, which closed for applications on 6 September 2024.
All applications in a given tranche must undergo an initial assessment before a more detailed technical check is carried out in the local office prior to approval issuing to eligible applicants. It is a regulatory requirement that all applications received under Tranche 4 must be evaluated, ranked and assessed and this can only take place after the closing of the tranche on 6th September. Unfortunately, applications cannot be approved individually or on a rolling basis as they are submitted.
Administrative checks of the 5,684 applications received in Tranche 4 are currently under way. Once this process is completed all eligible applications will move forward to the ranking and selection process.
823. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff vacancies, by grade, in his Department at the end of August 2023 and August 2024; and the number of staff, by grade, on a career break of more than five years and more than six years, at the end of August 2023 and August 2024. [44119/24]
View answerMy Department is committed to ensuring that a skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet its priority business needs. Workforce planning processes are utilised to identify our requirements across all our grade streams and locations, aiming to ensure a long-term, proactive and strategic plan by which current and future staffing needs are addressed.
As business needs arise, staff are allocated to support organisational priorities within my Department. Overall staffing levels and required skills are monitored to ensure business needs are met. Requirements are continually addressed in order to minimise the duration for which a post remains vacant. Our records do not readily lend themselves to retrospectively identifying the number of vacancies on a specific historic date. Consequently, the number of vacancies broken down by grade as existed in August 2023 and August 2024 are not available.
In addressing the filling of vacancies within my Department, consideration is given to upcoming career break returns. My Department recognises the importance of supporting our colleagues in their return to the workforce and aims to facilitate such returns with minimum delay.
In relation to staff in my Department on career break, one Clerical Officer and one Veterinary Inspector were both on career breaks of more than six years at the end of August 2023. There were no other officers on career break of more than five years at the end of August 2023.
One Clerical Officer was on a career break of more than six years at the end of August 2024.
In addition another Clerical Officer and one Agricultural Inspector were on career breaks of more than five years at the end of August 2024.
824. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that it is now illegal to export live animals from the UK (details supplied); how this affects Irish livestock and horses; and whether his Department is considering a ban. [44147/24]
View answerI am aware that as of the 22 July 2024 the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act 2024 of the United Kingdom has banned the export of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses for fattening and slaughter from Great Britain. The ban does not prevent the export of livestock and horses for breeding or competitions, and it does not apply in Northern Ireland.
The ban applies to journeys from, and transit journeys through, Great Britain to destinations outside of the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. We understand that the ban removes Great Britain as a land bridge for movement of livestock for slaughter, meaning no livestock can be taken from Northern Ireland or Ireland through Great Britain and onwards to mainland Europe for slaughter. This is not a route often used.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for regulating trade in live animals, in line with existing EU and National legislation. The Department takes its responsibilities in the matters of regulating this trade, and of protecting animal welfare, very seriously and operates a robust system of official controls so that Irish cattle can be traded successfully nationally, within the single market or internationally. I have no plans to introduce similar legislation to that being implemented by the UK.
825. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will seek a derogation from the ban on pollack fishing for some limited categories of inshore and island fishers that can demonstrate that they utilise low-impact methods of fishing. [44173/24]
View answerThe 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. This approach allows fishers to continue to operate in the fisheries in which Pollack is caught as a bycatch. By not targeting Pollack directly, this prevents excessive pressure on the stock and, in doing so, helps the stock recover.
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.
826. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to address concerns in respect of a body (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44200/24]
View answer871. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason unacceptable delays are occurring in issuing foal passports by Horse Sport Ireland; the measures that will be implemented to reduce such delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45104/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 826 and 871 together.
In July 2023, the named company introduced a new online passport application platform (ePassport), which was part-funded from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. This investment in e-passports was in recognition of the negative impact of Brexit on the horse sector and will have benefits in terms of improved traceability and equine health.
It is anticipated that the move to an e-passport system will make processing of applications more efficient. However, in the initial period, there have been administrative challenges that have caused delays, including the continued processing of applications using the former paper based system and operation of the new on-line system.
While the processing of equine passport applications is in the first instance an operational matter for the named company, officials from my Department are in regular contact with the named company and recently met with them to stress the importance of the timely issue of equine passports. The named company has assured my Department that it is committed to getting passports out as quickly as possible and has taken several steps to improve service delivery, including:
• staff working additional hours, including weekends to clear the backlog, and
• the employment of priority case management where passports are required urgently.
Recent status reports provided to my Department indicate that the backlog is reducing, and officials from my Department will continue to actively monitor progress in the coming weeks.
827. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to have regard to an issue (details supplied). [44238/24]
View answerI can confirm that my Department received a proposal from Teagasc in relation to the matter in question. The proposal is being examined as expeditiously as possible in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State bodies and Circular 17/2016: Policy for Property Acquisition and for Disposal of Surplus Property.
My Department will update Teagasc directly once matters are finalised.
828. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to specify the funding that is pre-committed under the National Development Plan for fishery harbour centre improvements in each of the years 2025 to 2030, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44239/24]
View answer829. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to specify the pre-committed funding under the National Development Plan that was expended on fishery harbour centre improvements in each of the years 2021 to 2024 and for future years until 2030, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44240/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 828 and 829 together.
My Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl, under statute.
Commitments in respect of the development of these harbours are made on an annual basis. Expenditure of €23.2m, €31.7m and €40.7m has been incurred under this heading in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023 respectively. This year, I announced an allocation of €29.7 million for this purpose in 2024. Details of project allocation are available at: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/1e320-minister-mcconalogue-announces-investment-of-297million-in-the-fishery-harbour-centres/
Expenditure provisions for future years will be determined in through the National Budgetary process. In this context the provision for 2025 will be finalised when the Revised Book of Estimates for 2025 is published. Expenditure commitments for 2025, based on contracts already entered into, are estimated to be in the region of €17.5 million, although a definitive figure will only be available after year end.
830. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding committed to Ireland under the European maritime, fisheries and aquaculture fund in each of the years 2023 to 2027, with a breakdown of funding committed by EU funds and co-funded by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44241/24]
View answerThe European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027 supports the EU common fisheries policy (CFP), the EU maritime policy and the EU agenda for international ocean governance. Indicative allocations for the Irish EMFAF Programme are €258.4 million, co-funded by €142.4 million from the European Union and €116 million from the National Exchequer. The EMFAF Operational Programme (OP) was formally adopted by the EMFAF Monitoring Committee and the Commission on the 8th of December 2022.
An extract from the EMFAF OP is set out at the link, which contains two tables:
Table 10 sets out the indicative allocations by year from 2021 to 2027, Union contribution only.
Table 11A sets out the indicative allocations by Specific Objective of the fund, which includes details on the national contribution.
The complete OP is available for viewing at: www.eufunds.ie/european-maritime-fisheries-and-aquaculture-fund/
831. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding committed to Ireland under the European maritime, fisheries and aquaculture fund in each of the years 2023 to 2027 that will be dedicated to funding the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44242/24]
View answerThe European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027 supports the EU common fisheries policy (CFP), the EU maritime policy and the EU agenda for international ocean governance. The Irish Seafood Development Programme will invest €258.4 million, co-funded with €142.4 million by the European Union(EMFAF) and €116 million by the Government of Ireland, in the Irish Seafood Sector. The EMFAF Operational Programme (OP) was formally adopted by the EMFAF Monitoring Committee and the Commission on the 8th of December 2022.
The indicative allocation in the programme for Fisheries Protection, Management & Technological Development, which represents the funding dedicated to activities of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) during the EMFAF programming period is 40 million.
EMFAF funding allocated to the SFPA, for the years 2023 and 2024 is as follows:
SFPA EMFAF allocation 2023: €4,829,000
SFPA EMFAF allocation 2024: €5,701,000
Future funding will be determined by way of the annual national budget and for this reason it is not possible to provide a figure for the amount EMFAF funding dedicated to funding the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority in each of the years 2025 to 2027.
832. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments in respect of a commonage and some farmers who are in the commonage area in acres will receive their payment in respect of the area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44261/24]
View answerThe ACRES participants have claimed commonage parcels in Sconce Upper and Ballyfin Upper, and both have been paid their 2024 BISS advance payments.
I can confirm that both herds received an interim payment in February. The full ACRES payments have now been processed for the 2023 scheme year, including for the commonage advised. In both cases, the interim payment exceeded the total contract value for the year, meaning that a repayment is due.
A summary report of the scores assigned has issued to both participants following the processing of their payments. These summaries are also available in the document manager of their AgFood accounts. The scorecard summary sets 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.
If any participant has a query regarding their commonage assessment score, they should contact the relevant CP Team who carried out the assessment and scoring of commonage in the relevant areas.
Advance payments in respect of participation in ACRES in 2024 are scheduled to commence by the end of November.
833. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of civil servants, by grade, in his Department who were on a career break in 2023 and 2024; the number of those who in 2023 and 2024 were on a career break of five years or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44296/24]
View answerI can confirm that there were 57 officers on career break in 2023 (data generated 28.08.23). The breakdown by grade is:
|
Grade |
Number |
|
Administrative Officer |
1 |
|
Agricultural Inspector |
2 |
|
Assistant Agricultural Inspector |
6 |
|
Assistant Harbour Master |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
6 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
13 |
|
Executive officer |
14 |
|
Forestry Inspector Grade 3 |
1 |
|
General Operative |
1 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
2 |
|
Laboratory Analyst |
3 |
|
Research Officer |
1 |
|
Superintending Veterinary Inspector |
1 |
|
Veterinary Inspector |
4 |
|
Total |
57 |
Of these officers, on this date one Clerical officer and one Veterinary Inspector were on career break for 5 years or longer. As of 02.09.24 in 2024 a total of 66 officers are on career break. The breakdown by grade is:
|
Grade |
Number |
|
Administrative Officer |
2 |
|
Agricultural Inspector |
2 |
|
Assistant Agricultural Inspector |
6 |
|
Assistant Harbour Master |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
4 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
19 |
|
Executive Officer |
8 |
|
Forestry Inspector Grade 3 |
1 |
|
General Operative |
2 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
2 |
|
Laboratory Analyst |
4 |
|
Principal Officer |
1 |
|
Research Officer |
1 |
|
Senior Laboratory Analyst |
2 |
|
Senior Research Officer |
1 |
|
Serological Assistant |
1 |
|
Superintending Veterinary Inspector |
1 |
|
Technical Agricultural Officer |
2 |
|
Veterinary Inspector |
5 |
|
Total |
66 |
Of these two clerical officers and one Agricultural Inspector were on career break for 5 years or longer.
834. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of horses slaughtered to date in 2024; the number of horses that have been slaughtered since Shannonside was closed; and the details of where they are now being slaughtered. [44317/24]
View answerThe number of horses slaughtered to date in 2024 is 919. The licence of Shannonside Foods was revoked on animal welfare and equine traceability grounds; no horses have been slaughtered in Ireland since then and the plant remains closed. There is currently no equine slaughter facility on the island of Ireland.
835. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will re-examine the cases of young farmers who were established prior to 2008 and were not eligible for the new supports introduced at this time for young farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44326/24]
View answerThe group commonly referred to as forgotten farmers comprises young farmers who were under the age of 40 in 2015, had established their holdings prior to 2008 and held no or low value payment entitlements.
I was pleased to be able to confirm that as part of Budget 2025 my Department secured an allocation of €5 million for 2025 to support this group of farmers. Work continues on addressing a number of remaining issues, including state aid considerations, before the details of the eligibility requirements and benefits to successful applicants under the scheme can be finalised. Details of the scheme will be made available as soon as this process has been completed.
I am committed to delivering for these farmers, many of whom find themselves in this situation through no fault of their own, at the earliest opportunity in 2025.
836. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the provisions of the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform Circular 4/2013 are being properly implemented by his Department; if he is satisfied that civil servants whose career breaks are coming to an end are being notified of appropriate vacancies; if he is concerned by instances where civil servants are having their career breaks extended unnecessarily where the Department has appropriate vacancies to fill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44369/24]
View answerMy Department is committed to ensuring that a highly skilled, motivated and efficient workforce is in place to meet on-going business needs and avails of Workforce Planning processes to identify and assess its business needs.
Workforce planning is a key tool in enabling my Department to forecast its current and future staffing needs. As a management function, it drives the full range of HR activities including recruitment, deployment, performance, learning and development. Workforce Planning aims to ensure a long-term, proactive and strategic plan by which my Department achieves the right level of talent in each location and Division, at the right time.
All available options are utilised in addressing the filling of vacancies within my Department and career break returns form a valuable mechanism in this process. My Department recognises the importance of supporting our colleagues in their return to the workforce and, while the timescale for career break returns can vary, we aim to facilitate such returns with minimum delay to individuals. It is not always feasible, however, to facilitate the swift return to work of a staff member on career break within their specific grade and location and the Career Break Circular 4/2013 alerts officers to the possibility of a twelve month lead-in period which may be required in order to facilitate a return to duty. I am satisfied that the terms of this Circular are being applied equally and fairly across my Department.
Overall staffing levels and required skills are continually monitored and prioritised in the context of my Departments constantly evolving business needs. The human resources division of my Department works to meet these needs subject to the limits of the annual estimates process, the usual budgetary constraints and approvals by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.
837. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on a matter regarding fishing in Kenmare Bay (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44421/24]
View answerIn December 2018, a transition period to a ban on vessels over 18 metres trawling in inshore waters, inside the six nautical mile zone was announced. A significant part of the objective of this measure was to manage the fishing effort on sprat stocks which are primarily targeted within inshore waters. This measure, however, was the subject of extended legal proceedings the outcome of which, received last year, is that the ban has been overturned.
In February 2024, I held a new public consultation on a review of trawling activity inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines. The consultation took place over a period of eight weeks and closed on Friday 12th April. This consultation took place without prejudice.
The purpose of this consultation was to invite stakeholders and interested parties to advise me of their views on any changes to policy within the scope of this review. A large volume of submissions - over 5,000 - were received. These submissions will be used to inform my review of trawling activity inside the six nautical mile zone and baselines. My Department is in the process of analysing the submissions. All relevant issues must be carefully considered before a decision can be made.
838. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given that it is now six months since the public consultation on trawling within Ireland’s six nautical mile limit, why the results of this consultation have not yet been published, with these trawlers continuing to return to Kenmare Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44422/24]
View answerIn December 2018, a transition period to a ban on vessels over 18 metres trawling in inshore waters, inside the six nautical mile zone was announced. A significant part of the objective of this measure was to manage the fishing effort on sprat stocks which are primarily targeted within inshore waters. This measure, however, was the subject of extended legal proceedings the outcome of which, received last year, is that the ban has been overturned.
In February 2024, I held a new public consultation on a review of trawling activity inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines. The consultation took place over a period of eight weeks and closed on Friday 12th April. This consultation took place without prejudice.
The purpose of this consultation was to invite stakeholders and interested parties to advise me of their views on any changes to policy within the scope of this review. A large volume of submissions - over 5,000 - were received. These submissions will be used to inform my review of trawling activity inside the six nautical mile zone and baselines. My Department is in the process of analysing the submissions and these will be published as soon as is feasible. All relevant issues must be carefully considered before a decision can be made.
839. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants, the total number of eligible suckler cows for which payments are made and the average herd size under the suckler carbon efficiency programme in each of the years 2023 and 2024. [44456/24]
View answerThe Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) aims to provide support to beef farmers to improve the environmental sustainability of the national beef herd. The programme aims to build on the gains delivered in recent years through the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP) by improving the genetic merit of the Irish suckler herd.
Payments in SCEP are calculated on the number of eligible forage hectares submitted by an active participant on their Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application, subject to their maximum payable area (MPA). A participants MPA is derived from their yearly reference number divided by 1.5. For example, a farmer with a yearly reference number of 21 would have an MPA of 14 hectares (21 /1.5).
The total MPA on which payments were made in respect of Scheme Year 1 (01 July 2022 to 30 June 2023) was circa 236,102 eligible forage hectares which equates to supports being provided to some 354,153 suckler cows to 16,997 SCEP participants, with an average herd size of 21 cows.
Payments for scheme year 2 (01 July 2023 to 30 June 2024) will commence in December 2024.
840. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual funding under the tillage incentive scheme that was expended on payments for newly converted lands and maintenance payments, respectively, in each of the years 2022 to 2024, in tabular form. [44457/24]
View answer841. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total area under the tillage incentive scheme that received payments for newly converted lands payment and for maintaining tillage land, respectively, in each of the years 2022 to 2024, in tabular form. [44458/24]
View answer842. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding allocated for the tillage incentive scheme in each of the years 2022 to 2025, in tabular form. [44459/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 840 to 842, inclusive, together.
The Tillage Incentive Scheme was introduced in 2022 in direct response to the illegal invasion of the Ukraine. It was a one-year scheme to provide support for the conversion of eligible grassland into specific tillage crops. This increased tillage area would help in reducing the dependency on imported feed material directly impacted by the war in the Ukraine.
The scheme was extended into 2023 and again provided support for newly converted grassland in 2023, in addition to providing a maintenance payment for those who continued to maintain their overall tillage area from 2022.
In 2024 the scheme will provide a maintenance payment to those farmers who converted grassland in 2023 and continue to maintain their overall tillage area in 2024. I have allocated €30 million for a new tillage scheme in 2025.
Breakdown of data requested
|
- |
Budget € |
Expenditure € |
Expenditure € |
Hectares (ha) |
Hectares (ha) |
|
Conversion |
Maintenance |
Conversion |
Maintenance |
||
|
2022 (Conversion) |
€10 million |
€11 m |
N/A |
27.4k ha |
N/A |
|
2023 Conversion and Maintenance) |
€10 million |
€6.5 m |
€2.1m |
16.3k ha |
10.6k ha |
|
2024 (Maintenance) |
€ 0.850 million |
N/A |
No payments calculated yet |
N/A |
No payable hectares calculated as yet |
