Written Answers Nos. 246-257
246. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that balancing payments for ACRES will issue without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37172/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra247. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when advance payments for ACRES 2024 will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37173/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together.
Balancing payments in respect of participation in ACRES in 2023 started to issue in mid-June 2024. Payments have now been finalised in respect of just over 36,400 participants, with as many as possible of the remainder to be paid by the end of September 2024, as and when contracts are cleared. Payments will continue to issue on a regular basis as cases pass all required validations. I should also say that by the end of March, almost all ACRES Tranche I applicants had received either a 85% advance payment or an interim payment of either €4,000 or €5,000.
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.
248. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make it compulsory that microchip verifications by veterinarians are carried out during routine visits, to confirm owners’ name, address and contact details; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37209/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy understanding is that this question relates to microchips on dogs.
My 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 and the microchip number must be registered. 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.
249. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the data available to his Department regarding the problem of stolen dogs in Ireland; the obligations under existing dog welfare legislation regarding compulsory verification of identity by microchip; the changes, if any, he is considering in this legislation to address the problem of identifying stolen dogs in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37221/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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/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.
Currently there are no plans to update this legislation.
Regarding the issue of the theft of dogs, this is not a matter that my Department has information on. An Garda Síochána may have information in relation to such criminal behaviour.
250. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which food and food products such as beef, lamb, pigmeat, diary or poultry have been imported into this country in each of the past five years to date; the extent to which trends have been noticeable throughout; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37226/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Central Statistics Office provides my Department with statistics on the value and volume of Irish trade in agri-food and prepared consumer foods. Agri-food statistics include agricultural produce not for human consumption, such as animal feed or forestry and wood products. Figures for 2023 are currently preliminary.
The total value of agri-food imports grew from €9.99 billion in 2019 to €13.17 billion in 2023, an increase of 31.8%. Volume grew by a lesser 1.2% during the same period, from 11.90 million tonnes to 12.04 million tonnes. There was a similar trend in imports of prepared consumer foods, which saw value rise by 30.9% between 2019 and 2023, from €3.76 billion to €4.92 billion. Volume grew by 1.1%, from 2.39 million tonnes to 2.42 million tonnes.
Table One below shows the value and volume of agri-food imports into Ireland during each of the past five full years, 2019-2023, by category. Table Two shows the same statistics for Irish imports of prepared consumer foods, by category.
Table One: Value and Volume of Agri-Food Imports, 2019-2023
|
Year |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|||||
|
Category |
Thousand Euro |
Tonnes |
Thousand Euro |
Tonnes |
Thousand Euro |
Tonnes |
Thousand Euro |
Tonnes |
Thousand Euro |
Tonnes |
|
Animal Feed |
1,358,322 |
5,359,840 |
1,401,645 |
5,284,805 |
1,574,361 |
5,152,202 |
2,309,000 |
5,925,886 |
2,026,512 |
5,561,653 |
|
Animal Skins & Furs |
2,150 |
257 |
1,744 |
348 |
3,128 |
182 |
4,261 |
793 |
3,351 |
373 |
|
Beef |
128,969 |
30,213 |
129,668 |
29,921 |
158,234 |
35,071 |
190,072 |
36,568 |
199,572 |
36,513 |
|
Beverages |
966,182 |
936,283 |
1,047,685 |
1,028,953 |
1,005,362 |
990,489 |
1,178,504 |
999,782 |
1,323,903 |
1,061,431 |
|
Cereal & cereal preparation |
900,573 |
734,954 |
883,817 |
667,608 |
850,834 |
592,232 |
1,042,279 |
675,400 |
1,216,013 |
674,785 |
|
Coffee, Tea, Cocoa & Spices |
653,841 |
137,084 |
658,383 |
159,250 |
607,154 |
109,719 |
708,444 |
125,833 |
789,775 |
129,102 |
|
Crude Animal & Vegetable Material |
241,888 |
267,162 |
265,394 |
249,944 |
300,702 |
213,984 |
331,923 |
218,758 |
322,909 |
193,330 |
|
Dairy Produce |
1,005,852 |
1,046,533 |
1,081,230 |
999,113 |
878,456 |
848,530 |
1,204,504 |
949,405 |
1,166,716 |
974,937 |
|
Egg |
23,696 |
11,098 |
20,767 |
12,640 |
19,081 |
6,154 |
41,235 |
16,656 |
54,156 |
13,059 |
|
Fish |
297,016 |
63,739 |
290,098 |
79,784 |
268,820 |
93,191 |
314,981 |
71,761 |
355,024 |
64,012 |
|
Forestry & Wood products |
605,008 |
1,053,557 |
572,213 |
1,076,721 |
738,783 |
1,107,505 |
868,034 |
897,785 |
886,386 |
1,127,732 |
|
Fruit & Vegetables |
863,300 |
719,107 |
869,725 |
705,788 |
824,727 |
701,460 |
919,854 |
705,769 |
1,045,209 |
719,586 |
|
Fruit & Vegetables Based Products |
508,278 |
386,257 |
531,797 |
395,246 |
445,092 |
300,194 |
546,751 |
325,492 |
659,685 |
335,601 |
|
Live Animals |
357,153 |
13,901 |
480,015 |
14,598 |
328,212 |
14,058 |
342,153 |
13,076 |
350,715 |
11,367 |
|
Miscellaneous Edible Products & Preparations |
597,957 |
252,809 |
598,725 |
256,773 |
583,492 |
209,081 |
701,419 |
228,653 |
811,535 |
246,243 |
|
Oils, Fats & Oleaginous Fruits |
230,744 |
302,079 |
272,745 |
336,997 |
353,380 |
322,837 |
547,859 |
343,264 |
445,888 |
304,195 |
|
Other Meat & Meat Produce |
26,310 |
10,939 |
17,875 |
8,650 |
8,825 |
4,744 |
13,395 |
4,509 |
17,925 |
10,045 |
|
Pigmeat |
343,742 |
99,342 |
322,960 |
86,095 |
303,833 |
82,481 |
334,826 |
85,595 |
351,909 |
77,504 |
|
Poultry |
478,466 |
134,330 |
393,336 |
121,205 |
383,501 |
114,343 |
555,592 |
142,316 |
571,189 |
142,257 |
|
Sheepmeat |
35,874 |
6,650 |
36,958 |
6,631 |
43,544 |
6,528 |
58,903 |
9,199 |
35,101 |
5,453 |
|
Sugar, Sugar Preparation & Honey |
344,732 |
327,890 |
356,037 |
331,170 |
322,929 |
321,364 |
390,833 |
351,050 |
514,185 |
352,773 |
|
Wool, Flax & Cotton |
24,685 |
4,575 |
13,604 |
1,831 |
18,056 |
3,862 |
24,649 |
4,873 |
25,648 |
2,884 |
|
Grand Total |
9,994,739 |
11,898,601 |
10,246,422 |
11,854,071 |
10,020,508 |
11,230,209 |
12,629,471 |
12,132,424 |
13,173,305 |
12,044,837 |
Table Two: Value and Volume of Prepared Consumer Food Imports, 2019-2023
|
Year |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|||||
|
Category |
Thousand Euro |
Tonnes |
Thousand Euro |
Tonnes |
Thousand Euro |
Tonnes |
Thousand Euro |
Tonnes |
Thousand Euro |
Tonnes |
|
Biscuits |
156,645 |
54,630 |
153,364 |
53,995 |
136,261 |
47,626 |
163,029 |
54,084 |
217,035 |
56,216 |
|
Breads |
150,658 |
77,337 |
149,217 |
69,735 |
125,722 |
61,620 |
137,383 |
52,447 |
164,358 |
55,947 |
|
Cereal based Products |
365,038 |
423,402 |
381,087 |
405,868 |
366,812 |
360,926 |
475,372 |
434,184 |
511,729 |
423,733 |
|
Chocolate-based products |
371,603 |
83,259 |
373,542 |
88,162 |
330,759 |
63,941 |
361,752 |
70,641 |
426,866 |
71,008 |
|
Dairy Preparations |
191,030 |
109,562 |
193,974 |
109,320 |
165,216 |
88,572 |
207,850 |
72,492 |
236,200 |
86,655 |
|
Extracts, Sauces, Soups |
379,913 |
131,019 |
387,474 |
144,706 |
362,276 |
114,354 |
435,265 |
121,967 |
480,997 |
124,940 |
|
Frozen Confectionery |
68,827 |
31,613 |
78,909 |
36,785 |
62,757 |
24,261 |
56,356 |
20,526 |
75,611 |
29,001 |
|
Fruit & Vegetable based |
429,430 |
312,360 |
452,652 |
312,202 |
387,116 |
254,689 |
466,874 |
284,573 |
585,458 |
320,235 |
|
Fruit-based bakery |
73,630 |
31,566 |
68,694 |
24,471 |
87,050 |
25,145 |
94,999 |
24,401 |
108,409 |
23,114 |
|
Meat Preparations |
556,394 |
133,773 |
473,759 |
111,348 |
431,164 |
92,681 |
545,698 |
99,392 |
593,175 |
101,439 |
|
Other Food Preparations |
259,633 |
91,173 |
259,531 |
82,937 |
298,192 |
84,930 |
301,292 |
71,260 |
340,055 |
71,006 |
|
Pizza/Quiche |
94,569 |
39,758 |
89,699 |
39,793 |
96,600 |
28,584 |
122,910 |
33,667 |
148,774 |
54,783 |
|
Savoury Snacks etc |
44,119 |
15,663 |
49,963 |
16,218 |
37,781 |
9,156 |
40,612 |
9,020 |
52,929 |
9,486 |
|
Sugar-based products |
212,564 |
345,162 |
220,245 |
355,100 |
229,189 |
371,351 |
273,934 |
383,794 |
388,966 |
391,370 |
|
Waters & Juices & Soft Drinks |
405,676 |
511,958 |
390,325 |
532,209 |
398,421 |
525,952 |
503,420 |
549,494 |
590,048 |
599,952 |
|
Grand Total |
3,759,729 |
2,392,238 |
3,722,436 |
2,382,849 |
3,515,315 |
2,153,788 |
4,186,746 |
2,281,943 |
4,920,609 |
2,418,885 |
Overall, agri-food and prepared consumer food imports have typically grown to a greater extent during these five years in terms of their nominal value than their volume. Table three below shows the change in the value and volume of imports in selected agri-food categories between 2019 and 2023.
Table Three: Change in the Value and Volume of Imports in Selected Agri-Food Categories between 2019 and 2023
|
Value |
Volume |
|||
|
€ 000 |
Percentage (%) |
Tonnes |
Percentage (%) |
|
|
Dairy Produce |
160,865 |
16.0% |
-71,596 |
-6.8% |
|
Fish |
58,008 |
19.5% |
273 |
0.4% |
|
Beef |
70,602 |
54.7% |
6,301 |
20.9% |
|
Pigmeat |
8,166 |
2.4% |
-21,838 |
-22.0% |
|
Poultry |
92,723 |
19.4% |
7,927 |
5.9% |
|
Sheepmeat |
-773 |
-2.2% |
-1,197 |
-18.0% |
|
Other Meat & Meat Produce |
-8,386 |
-31.9% |
-894 |
-8.2% |
|
Agri-Food (All Categories) |
3,178,566 |
31.8% |
146,236 |
1.2% |
It is important to consider agri-food imports in the context of corresponding exports, which grew by €3.63 billion or 24.8% between 2019 and 2023 overall - despite a fall in the volume of agri-food exports of 130,577 tonnes (1.7%).
Ireland recorded an agri-food trade surplus of more than €5 billion in 2023, and trade surpluses were recorded in several of the most valuable individual categories of agri-food in each of the past five years. In 2023, for example, trade surpluses were recorded for dairy produce (€5.25 billion); beef (€2.79 billion); pigmeat (€525 million); sheepmeat (€384 million); and fish (€196 million).
251. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will allocate €10 million in Budget 2025 to establish 34 universal youth work hubs and uplift the youth services grant scheme to support pay parity, enhance volunteer-led universal youth work, and engage an additional 27,560 young people and 2,800 volunteers; if he will examine this request which is highlighted in an organisation’s pre-Budget 2025 submission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37073/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra252. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will allocate €1 million in Budget 2025 to employ 14 specialist staff to coordinate digital youth work and engage 1,400 young people in digital skills and literacy development; if he will examine this request which is highlighted in an organisation’s pre-Budget 2025 submission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37074/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra253. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will allocate €1.5 million in Budget 2025 to recruit 23 dedicated mentoring and specialist staff to support 400 new mentoring matches and provide specialist support for 225 young people from diverse communities; if he will examine this request which is highlighted in an organisation’s pre-Budget 2025 submission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37075/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra254. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will allocate €2 million in Budget 2025 to establish 15 new targeted youth projects under the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme, engaging 1,200 young people experiencing disadvantage; if he will examine this request which is highlighted an organisation’s pre-Budget 2025 submission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37076/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 251, 252, 253 and 254 together.
I have received the submission referred to by the Deputy, and it is being reviewed within my Department.
Budget 2025 is currently being considered by Government in the context of the annual estimates process. Therefore, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
However, from 2020 to Budget 2024, current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes increased from €61.79 million to €77.95 million, a 26% increase overall.
My Department has made a significant investment in youth services in 2024, building on the increases in recent years and securing the achievements into the future. The current funding for youth services and programmes in my Department this year is €77.95 million, an increase of €5 million, or 6.8%, on the 2023 budget.
In the context of Budget 2025, I am committed to supporting this important sector which provides positive and transformative opportunities and supports to young people.
255. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will allocate €0.5 million in Budget 2025 to increase funding for an initiative (details supplied), supporting an additional 930 young people in local, regional, and national decision-making processes; if he will examine this request which is highlighted in an organisation’s pre-Budget 2025 submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37077/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2025 is currently being considered by Government in the context of the annual estimates process. Therefore, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage. I am aware, of course, of the pre-budget submission in question and the request for additional funding for Comhairle na nÓg.
In 2022 there was an increase in funding of Comhairle na nÓg by €155,000. That represented an uplift of 20% on the previous year.
I am committed to supporting Comhairle na nÓg which provides such positive and transformative opportunities for young people.
256. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide the additional €15 million in funding needed for the youth work sector to meet increased demand in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37100/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2025 is currently being considered by Government in the context of the annual estimates process. Therefore, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
However, from 2020 to Budget 2024, current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes increased from €61.79 million to €77.95 million, a 26% increase overall.
My Department has made a significant investment in youth services in 2024, building on the increases in recent years and securing the achievements into the future. The current funding for youth services and programmes in my Department this year is €77.95 million, an increase of €5 million, or 6.8%, on the 2023 budget.
In the context of Budget 2025, I am committed to supporting this important sector which provides positive and transformative opportunities and supports to young people.
257. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason some organisations and workers are being excluded from the section 39, section 56 and section 10 pay deal agreed in October 2023; the number of relevant organisations and workers currently excluded from this deal; the number included; the status of talks to resolve this issue with unions representing workers in these sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37106/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises the essential work carried out by staff in community and voluntary health and social care organisations, and the reliance of the State on their employer organisations to deliver essential supports and services to many citizens.
The agreement reached last October at the WRC culminated in funding being provided for an 8% increase in pay for workers in organisations who provide services funded under Section 39, 56, 10 or 40 of relevant Acts.
The Department secured additional funding of €14m in 2023 and a further €41m in 2024 for Section 39 disability organisations to meet pay costs aligned to the October Agreement. This funding is currently being administered to eligible organisations by the HSE.
A significant number of Section 39 claims have required extensive engagement to confirm the information necessary to support claims for additional funding.
It is the objective of commissioning agencies to make all due payments without delay so that employees of these service provider organisations can access their entitlements without delay. There is also a responsibility of employers to apply for this available funding and pass on increases to eligible staff as soon as possible.
In line with the October Agreement, and following agreement of a subsequent public sector pay deal, relevant Departments, agencies, employer representatives and unions reconvened for preliminary talks at the WRC on 14 May. Substantive talks resumed at the WRC on 24 June, 22 July, 26 July, 02 August, 30 August and most recently 06 September.
While progress has been made, there are a number of issues to be resolved in relation to the funding streams and staff who will be covered within the scope of any new agreement. The talks are paused to allow the parties review their positions with a view to developing solutions to these challenges, within the complexity and constraints of current funding arrangements between government departments, commissioning agencies and organisations in the sector.
The Departments consider that the WRC process can still yield a significant benefit for workers in these organisations, support the sustainability of the health and social care sectors, and assist employers in recruiting and retaining staff. The Departments remain available to return to talks under the auspices of the WRC. In the meantime communication between the Departments and Unions is ongoing.
