Written Answers Nos. 585-599
585. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approval from the European Commission and/or his Department will be obtained for the hundreds of applications for funding under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund provided by the seven voluntary FLAG boards around the coast. [42381/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork is close to completion on a funding scheme for community led local development, as provided for in the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Regulation and Ireland's Seafood Development Programme (which is co-funded by the government and the EU under EMFAF).
Implementation of this scheme will be supported by the Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), and Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) will provide administrative support to the FLAGs. It is expected that the scheme will be in place in the coming weeks and implementation can begin by the FLAGs.
586. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for clarification of matters in relation to the CAP budget (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42405/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
587. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the complementary income support for young farmers scheme is limited to one recipient per herd number; whether a spouse who is a partner in the company may also avail of the support under the herd number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42428/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraPayment under the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (CISYF) is based on the eligible hectares declared by the applicant in the scheme year in question, subject to a maximum of 50 hectares. A Company is a single herd number entity. As a single herd number entity the eligible land is declared under the herd number and, irrespective of the number of eligible young farmers operating within the Company, the CISYF payment is made based on this eligible land declared by the Company, subject to a maximum of 50 hectares.
588. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the results of his Department’s investigation following the pig farm footage given by an anonymous tip-off on 5 March 2023. [42430/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2024 my Department received material relating to alleged breaches of animal welfare requirements on two Irish pig farms. I can confirm that the material was reviewed by my officials and a follow up investigation was commenced. Enforcement actions as considered necessary and appropriate were taken. The matter is still subject to on-going review and investigation.
I can also confirm to the Deputy that pig farms in Ireland are subject to risk-based animal welfare inspections, as part of official controls carried out under specific pig welfare legislation. My Department is fully committed to promoting and maintaining high animal welfare standards and to continued enforcement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, and other relevant animal welfare legislation.
589. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions his Department will take following from the RTÉ Prime Time documentary on calves, given that abuse at marts was uncovered by another RTÉ exposé last year; and why the investigation is still pending, with no one prosecuted on animal welfare charges. [42433/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is the policy of my Department to investigate all allegations of illegal or criminal behaviour. Even in advance of the broadcast of 8th October, my Department had sought all unedited relevant footage from RTÉ of welfare abuses in the Irish premise's featured and when these are received they will be thoroughly reviewed, analysed and follow-up will be undertaken with all relevant persons as part of the Department's investigation.
My Department's investigation into the animal welfare related incidents that were highlighted in footage broadcast by RTÉ on 10 July 2023 remains ongoing.
This is a complex investigation involving many hours of video footage, multiple locations and multiple persons.
Progressing investigations of this nature does take time, and the Department’s focus remains on ensuring that enforcement action, as appropriate, will be taken once all relevant evidential matters are fully collated, authenticated, and analysed.
Since the investigations into the incidents highlighted in the July 2023 broadcast are ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further except to clarify that there is relevant legislation, which is applicable to the alleged offences highlighted, to which a 2-year statute-bound timeframe applies for bringing summary prosecution proceedings.
590. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the RTÉ Prime Time documentary on calves, whether his Department has suspended operations at Hallissey’s; and if not, why not. [42434/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is the policy of my Department to investigate all allegations of non compliances with the law. Authorised officers of my Department operate within a legal framework and investigate, gather evidence and as necessary take enforcement actions that are determined to be proportionate effective and dissuasive.
Even in advance of the broadcast of the RTÉ Prime Time documentary on calves on 8 October, my Department had sought all unedited relevant footage from RTÉ in the Irish premise's featured and when these are received they will be thoroughly reviewed, analysed and follow-up will be undertaken with all relevant persons as part of the Department's investigation. The premises referenced has not been suspended - the investigation is ongoing.
591. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the RTÉ Prime Time documentary on calves, if he will provide a timeframe for the investigation given that the length of the previous investigation; and if he will provide additional resources to ensure a more timely outcome. [42435/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department is conducting an examination of the matters that featured in the recent RTÉ Prime Time documentary on calves on 8 October. My Department’s focus will be to ensure that enforcement action, as appropriate, is being taken, once all relevant evidential matters are fully collated, authenticated, and analysed.
It is not possible to put a timeframe for the investigation but I can assure the Deputy that the full rigours of the law will be applied, as appropriate, and at this point in time it is not considered necessary that additional resources are required to conduct this investigation.
592. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the delays by Horse Sport Ireland in issuing passports can be investigated, as this issue has lingered on for years, and unacceptable delays are causing widespread disruption regarding sales and ownership and placing the breeding industry in jeopardy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42468/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is aware of delays in the processing of equine passport applications at Horse Sport Ireland (HSI). This is an operational matter for HSI. My Department has however met with HSI to stress the importance of prompt identification of equines, the need for swift turnaround times in the issuing of identification documents and for HSI to keep their customers up to date on the status of their passport applications. I am continuing to monitor this matter closely.
593. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what he proposes to help to stop the activity of pair trawling (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42498/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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.
594. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports available for Kildare farmers struggling with rising costs and climate-related challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42554/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWe must all acknowledge that Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. Farmers are at the coalface and are bearing the brunt of the impacts. My Department is committed to working with Farmers in achieving our climate objectives and over-coming challenges faced in the agricultural sector arising from Climate Change.
To safeguard the viability of the sector, the Irish CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) has a significant budget of €9.8 billion over five years, and more than 60% of that (just under €6 billion) is targeted at supporting farm incomes. A key element of the CSP is the commitment to enhanced climate and environmental practices such as ACRES with funding of €1.5 billion and the ECO scheme with €297 million. In addition, Protein Aid, Straw Incorporation, the Organic Farming Scheme, Multispecies & Red Clover Swards and Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) support wider environmental objectives through reduction in chemical usage, new technologies and import substitution. The objective here is to reduce emissions, thereby reducing the future impacts of climate change.
The weather this year has been challenging for farmers across Ireland. To offset challenges in relation to fodder, I introduced the Fodder Transport Measure Support Scheme. This provides targeted support to farmers having to purchase fodder over longer distances in light of the prolonged and unfavourable weather conditions on farm.
A new Baling Assistance Payment 2024 was introduced to bolster fodder supplies, running in tandem with the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM). This payment allows farmers the flexibility to choose whether to receive funding by chopping straw under SIM or by baling it under the new Baling Assistance Payment.
As the deputy is aware, I secured an additional €158 million in Budget 2025, €85 million of this is for New Measures for Farmers.
I was delighted to announce last week that my Department issued advance payments under the BISS & CRISS, worth over €506 million to 110,186 farmers. I delivered payment levels this year that far exceed what was achieved at the commencement of payments in 2023. These payments are critical to family farm income and a vital support for farmers as well as the rural economy.
My Department also issued the highest ever level of advance payments under the areas of Natural Constraints Scheme at €184m. Payments for various schemes will continue to issue over the coming months.
I will continue to work with farmers and am wholly committed to ensuring that family farms can weather the storm and provide an income for their families.
595. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his department has plans to support organic farming initiatives in Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42566/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll farmers across Ireland are eligible to apply to participate in the Organic Farming Scheme, which reopened this week and will remain open until November 29th. Numbers farming organically have increased to approximately 5,000, and we now have a significant demand for organic livestock feed and food-grade organic oats, which offers a real opportunity for tillage farmers, including those in Kildare.
596. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an update on the food vision tillage group report will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42634/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government recognises the importance of the tillage sector. It is an integral part of Irish farming and makes a significant contribution to overall agricultural output.
It is Government policy to increase the area under tillage to 400,000 hectares by 2030. It is for this reason that I established the Food Vision Tillage Group in May 2023 to set out a road map for the sustainable growth and development of the sector.
I welcomed the final report from the Group earlier this year. It is a very detailed and comprehensive report that identifies opportunities to grow the sector and further improve its environmental footprint. Implementation of the actions in the report will be an ongoing process and will require a collaborative effort from many different stakeholders.
My officials are currently engaging with relevant stakeholders as part of this process, and they will provide an update on progress to the Food Vision High Level Implementation Committee. Furthermore, it is envisaged that my officials will provide an update on progress to the Food Vision Tillage Group on a periodic basis.
Since I was appointed Minister, I have ensured that more direct support was provided to tillage farmers by this Government than any other Government in the history of the State. In particular, I was acutely aware of the challenges that tillage farmers experienced over the last two years.
Significant support was provided to the tillage sector last year including payments under the Protein Aid Scheme totalling over €10.9 million, Straw Incorporation Measure payments of €15.5 million and the Tillage Incentive Scheme providing €8.5 million in expenditure. Furthermore, €14.3 million was paid in support to tillage farmers by way of an Unharvested Crop Support Scheme and as a once-off flat rate payment on the area of oilseed rape and cereal crops.
Building on these significant supports I was delighted to have secured €50 million for the tillage sector for 2025- €30 million to deliver on the commitment I made in April for a €100/ha payment for all crops planted for this year’s harvest; €10 million for the Straw Incorporation Measure and €10 million for Protein Aid.
A vibrant and sustainable tillage sector is hugely important in increasing our food and feed security while also contributing to our climate change objectives. I am a strong supporter of the tillage sector. I believe it has huge potential and I am committed to delivering on this potential.
597. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department carries out random auditing checks of the CC t/a Micro Dog ID database to ensure that owners are informing the database of any change of ownership, controller, location, death of greyhound, loss of greyhound or return of greyhound; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42671/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Microchipping of Dogs Regulation 2015 and Microchipping of Dogs (Amendment) Regulations 2015 require that 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 and the microchip number must be registered to an approved database. There are four microchip databases in Ireland, run by private operators. These companies are authorised by my Department to register owner details for dog microchips and include the database mentioned. Dog owners, including greyhound owners, are free to use any of the four databases.
Animal Welfare Officers are authorised to obtain information from the approved databases in relation to individual microchips. Interrogation of the database is targeted to establish the traceability of a dog that strays, to assist in the return to an owner if a dog is stolen and can also be carried out in the investigation of welfare cases. These targeted interrogations also function to assess compliance with the regulations. My Department does not carry out additional checks beyond this.
598. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the details of costings provided to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, in the context of the National Development Plan 2021-2030 review conducted earlier this year; and to provide a breakdown of each project and its projected cost in each of the years 2025 to 2030. [42710/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department's National Development Plan (NDP) allocation funds a number schemes that support farmers, producers, and fishers pursue the sustainable development of their respective sectors in accordance with the ambition in Food Vision 2030 and the EU's Common Agricultural and Fisheries Policies. The aim of these schemes is to deliver enhanced economic, environmental and social sustainability, with a particular emphasis on climate change mitigation and adaptation actions.
During the NDP 2021-2030, review conducted earlier this year, I secured an extra €25 million for the years 2025 (€10 million) and 2026 (€15 million). This brings my department's 2025 NDP allocation to €300 million.
The extra €25 million will provide additional capital funding to existing and new capital projects. These include my department's contribution to the bio-methane strategy, which will ultimately be funded from REPower EU, the establishment of two new veterinary colleges, which is being advanced and managed by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the development of my department's regional veterinary laboratories.
The division of the additional €15 million for 2026 will be considered in the context of the 2026 estimates process.
599. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether, as requested previously, he has moved to include the Glenasmole Valley in south county Dublin on the border with Wicklow in the deer control programme, which includes fifteen ‘hotspots’ nationally; when is this likely to happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42856/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the importance of the sustainable management of our national deer population for agriculture, as well as for our nature ecosystems. The increased populations of deer in some parts of the country has led to a reduction in biodiversity and an increase in road traffic accidents. In response to this I have set up the Deer Management Strategy Group, along with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This group includes representatives of the National Parks and Wildlife Service and my Department, and is led by an independent chair.
On foot of a recommendation of the strategy group, a public consultation on the management of deer was launched late last year. This was the first major public consultation on the impact of deer and it received over 1,500 submissions.
A report was published by the Group in December 2023. The report made recommendations across a wide range of issues, from hunter training and forest design to land use management and the venison market. The 16 recommended actions are presented in the form of short and medium-term implementation targets. The Deer Management Strategy Group continues to meet regularly to progress these recommendations towards implementation.
Two of the main recommendations are the appointment of a deer management programme manager and the establishment of local deer management units, in respect of which a procurement process is currently in progress.
The issuing of licences for the control of deer is an operational matter for the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
