Results 161-180 of 3,701 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is an agri-environmental climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027, approved by the European Commission in October 2022. There are currently 54,223 participants in the scheme which exceeds the planned complement of 50,000. Participants in the ACRES Co-operation approach have had the opportunity since their...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The tillage sector is an integral part of Irish farming. This Government recognises the importance of the sector and wants to grow the area under tillage crops. My Department has provided significant direct supports to tillage farmers. The financial allocation for coupled support under the Protein Aid Scheme has been increased to €10m annually from 2024. The Straw Incorporation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: As part of Budget 2025 my Department secured an allocation of €5 million for 2025 to support the group of farmers commonly referred to as forgotten farmers. Work is ongoing to address a number of remaining issues, before the details of the eligibility requirements and benefits to successful applicants under any scheme can be finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: Microfinance Ireland (MFI) is a not-for-profit organisation funded through the Government’s Microenterprise Loan Fund. MFI is not under the aegis of my Department, nor does my Department impose any restrictions or have any role in its operational decisions. However, where it offers loans to farmers, MFI must ensure that such loans comply with relevant EU state aid regulations. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Irish Grown Wool Council was established in April 2023, following recommendations from the Wool Feasibility study, and was set up as an independent stakeholder-led Council. I am supportive of its work and my Department allocated €30,000 to the Council in start-up seed funding, almost €26,000 of which has been drawn down. In addition, in 2024 my Department provided a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: Grazing Rights are usually linked to an area of land and permit individuals to graze a certain number of livestock pro rata to the number of rights held. Grazing Rights may in certain instances be documented as an appurtenant right on a Land Folio Record and in other instances remain unregistered. My Department has no responsibility in the redistribution of grazing rights.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Breeding (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Programme for Government provides a commitment to address the disjointed approach to dog control issues by ensuring all legislation and policy in relation to the control of dogs, dog welfare and dog breeding establishments, will transfer to my Department. Discussions involving the relevant Government Departments (including my Department) on the approach to implementation of the above have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: Each year my Department invites eligible animal welfare charities to submit a funding application through the Animal Welfare grants programme. To qualify, applicants must meet specified requirements, which are made available through the application process, with awards made on the basis of objective criteria which are reviewed on an annual basis. Last year 6 million of funding was given...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The new Programme for Government prioritises “supporting inter-generational farm succession”. Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food sector, states that generational renewal in farming is critically important to ensure the future viability and social sustainability of the Irish agri-food sector and of rural Ireland. While supporting young farmers and new...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I can confirm that a total of 1,103 farmers with holdings in County Wexford are currently active participants in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES). Of this total, 670 farmers are currently awaiting their 2024 scheme year advance payments, of which 64 are also awaiting finalisation of 2023 payments. A total of just under €248 million has been paid to 43,032...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Communications (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The details supplied refer to an application to become the herd keeper of an established herd. The application was received by my Department on 28 February 2025 and, following an assessment, was approved on 31 March 2025. A letter issued to the applicant that day confirming them as the new herd keeper.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Herd Owner experienced a TB breakdown in his herd in January 2025. His Regional Veterinary Office have been awaiting the submission of an outstanding document and have contacted the Herd Owner to request the outstanding document. When the document has been received, the Regional Veterinary Office will be in a position to process payments under the On Farm Market Valuation scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: In March this year I announced details of €27.75 million allocated for capital projects in Ireland’s publicly owned harbours through the 2025 Fishery Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. The investment will modernise and enhance the six state-owned Fishery Harbour Centres (FHCs) located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I am aware of the incident and officials from my Department are liaising with National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) in relation to this matter. It would not be appropriate to comment on individual cases. My Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline and email through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect. The Helpline number...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Communications (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: Coillte was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988, and day-to-day operational matters, such as the issue raised, are the responsibility of the company. I have referred the matter to Coillte for direct follow-up with the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: In response to the Deputy's question, the table beneath provides a current breakdown of Ministerial staff and Private Secretaries within my Department. Where it is the case that the salary costs are borne by my Department, the related information is included. These positions are further supported by additional Department team members within my Corporate Affairs Division. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: Pesticide Controls Division (PCD) is responsible for implementing the regulatory system and official controls for the placing on the market and use of plant protection and biocidal products in Ireland. In cases where a detailed technical risk assessment of the scientific data is required, this is carried out by scientific experts in the Pesticide Registration Division. The number of staff...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Records (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Pesticide Controls Division (PCD) of my Department implements an integrated scheduling system for applicants seeking authorisation to place plant protection products (PPPs) on the Irish market. There are currently a total of 524 PPP applications submitted to PCD for new PPPs and re-authorisation of existing PPPs as part of the EU review process. These include applications for which...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department provides a range of financial supports that focus on compensating farmers for both direct and indirect losses incurred as a result of a TB breakdown on the farm. The On Farm Market Valuation Scheme is the principal compensation measure available to herd-owners whose herds are affected by a bovine TB breakdown in their herd. The Scheme aims to compensate farmers up to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The person named submitted an application under the ACRES General stream and was approved into Tranche 1 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023. An interim payment of €4,000 issued to the herd owner in March 2024 in respect of their participation in Scheme Year 2023. To date this case has not passed the 2023 balance payment validations. My Department is...