Results 2,981-3,000 of 23,950 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The EU Regulations governing the operation of young farmer support schemes since 2015 set out that the purpose of the schemes is to provide an income support to young farmers commencing their agricultural activities and after the initial setting-up. The support should only cover the initial period of life of the business and should be granted for a maximum duration shortly after the initial...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. There is an indicative budget of €370 million available for the period 2023-2027, and all investments must be linked to Climate, Environment or Animal Welfare. Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 closed on 30 June 2023,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: In August 2023, I announced the outcome of the limited review of the 2012 Herring Management Policy in relation to the Herring 6a South quota for non-ringfenced vessels. Following this limited review, I established a North-West Herring Advisory Committee (NWHAC), comprinsing one representative of each from the six Producer Organisations, one representative from the National Inshore...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The applicant named was subject to a Statutory Management Requirement (SMR) 2 check, relating to Protection of Waters Pollution caused by Nitrates and a GAEC 6 inspection relating to Minimum soil cover to avoid bare soil in periods that are most sensitive. As a result of the application of inspection penalties, the 2023 BISS payment has not yet issued. That process is now complete and any...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: It makes no difference to our budget this year or next year. It is dealt with as a separate category by the Department of public expenditure in relation to how they account.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (21 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Last year we had a year-on-year increase in the number of licences issued. We issued 4,713 licences which was 1,100 more than applications received. The average time it took to approve all afforestation licences, private felling licences, and Coillte felling licences which were granted by his Department in 2022 is set out below. Licence Type Average Months to Decision ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (21 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: European Innovation Partnership (EIP-agri) projects are a successful vehicle for interested parties – farmers, scientists, etc. – to collaborate on a particular issue, trialling solutions on the ground. Last July, along with my ministerial colleague Darragh O’Brien, TD, I announced the winning bidder, the Local Authorities Water Programme (LAWPRO), following an open...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (21 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The move to a maximum derogation stocking rate of 220 kg Nitrogen per hectare, for certain areas, from January 2024, is required by the Commission Implementing Decision granting Ireland's current nitrates derogation. I have engaged with Commissioner Sinkevicius throughout this year, seeking the maximum flexibility possible regarding the move to a maximum derogation stocking rate of 220 kg...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (21 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Every effort has been made by my Department, and will continue to be made, to ensure payments reach the maximum number of eligible applicants as soon as possible. To date over 90% of eligible BISS applicants have received an advance payment of 70%. The 10% of unpaid applicants are made up of cases where further processing is required, for example, the Department is awaiting further...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (21 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department is committed to ensuring that a skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet its priority business needs. To achieve this, workforce planning is utilised in identifying and addressing the needs for all our locations. Recruitment is currently underway in the Department and posts continue to be filled through a number of mechanisms, namely the Civil Service Mobility Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (21 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Persons fulfilling their replanting obligations are not entitled to afforestation premiums. In line with state aid rules, afforestation premiums are used to incentivise landowners to undertake a land use change to forestry. However, such a person may be eligible for Intervention 7 of our New Forestry Programme 2023-2027 - Climate Resilient Reforestation. This pilot scheme will be launched in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (21 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, or ACRES, is the central agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. It is a flagship agri-environmental project with funding of €1.5bn committed over the scheme lifetime. This is the largest amount ever committed to an agri-environment scheme. ACRES will play a huge role in driving environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (21 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: EU Regulations governing the administration of 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) scheme and other area- based schemes require that full and comprehensive checks are completed before any payments issue. The 2023 BISS application of the persons named is currently being processed. Any payments due to the applicants will issue as soon as this process is complete.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (21 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, or ACRES, is the central agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. It is a flagship agri-environmental project with funding of €1.5bn committed over the scheme lifetime. This is the largest amount ever committed to an agri-environment scheme. ACRES will play a huge role in driving environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Cybersecurity Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: It is mandatory for all staff joining the Department to complete training with modules in Information Security, Cyber Security and Data Protection and the Department issues regular cyber security awareness communications to all staff. For operational and security reasons, the Department has been advised by the National Cyber Security Centre not to disclose details which could, in any way,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (21 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to cyber security and has attained the industry security standard ISO27001 certification since 2019. The Department has in place comprehensive arrangements to support ICT security and receives regular advice on these matters from the relevant authorities including the National Cyber Security Centre. For operational...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to cyber security and has attained the industry security standard ISO27001 certification since 2019. The Department has in place comprehensive arrangements to support ICT security and receives regular advice on these matters from the relevant authorities including the National Cyber Security Centre. For operational...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Cybersecurity Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to cyber security and has attained the industry security standard ISO27001 certification since 2019. The Department has in place comprehensive arrangements to support ICT security and receives regular advice on these matters from the relevant authorities including the National Cyber Security Centre. For operational...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (21 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The new Afforestation Scheme under the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 opened on the 6th September and existing applications are being migrated over to this scheme as the applicants opt in. DAFM have now started issuing licences under this scheme. This accounts for the 56 forestry licences (533 hectares) issued to date under the new programme. In addition to the above, my Department have also...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (21 Nov 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department uses workforce planning processes to identify the critical resource needs required to deliver its business goals. Workforce planning is a key tool in enabling my Department to forecast its current and future staffing needs. The Workforce Plan aims to ensure a long-term, proactive and strategic plan by which my Department aims to have the right people, with the right levels of...