Results 1-20 of 3,701 for speaker:Martin Heydon

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

Martin Heydon: The information requested will take time to collate and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (8 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: Over the last four years my Department has invested significantly in additional resources to address the increased complexity of licensing applications which has resulted from more stringent environmental requirements. These included investments in additional forestry inspectors, ecologist and administrative staff. We have also implemented changes to our systems and processes on foot of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tree Remediation (8 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The minimum setback distance between newly planted forestry (greater than 0.1 hectares) and dwelling houses is 60 metres. In certain circumstances where the dwelling owner provides written consent this distance can be reduced to 30 metres. My Department checks these minimum setback distances have been included in forestry licence applications and also checks during post-planting inspections...

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

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together. ACRES payments continue to issue on a weekly basis as cases pass all required validation checks. The issues which are impacting on the making of certain payments have been identified and are being worked through. A dedicated team has been put in place to complete the outstanding cases, and resources are being allocated, where...

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

Martin Heydon: The aim of the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme is to provide support to farmers who farm land in areas eligible for the support, following the reclassification of land in the jurisdiction of Ireland undertaken in 2019. These payments are a valuable source of income support for farmers recognising the challenges for those situated in areas of natural and other specific constraints. ...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department recently received a submission from the association in question. Due consideration will be given to the contents of the document and my Department will liaise directly with the association on the matters raised.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Flood Relief Schemes (7 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: Following exceptional flooding in the Shannon Callows during the summer of 2023, on the 7th of November 2023 the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme was announced as a once-off measure. The aim of the scheme was to support farmers who had lost fodder due to flooding in the region during summer 2023. Funding of approximately €800,000 was allocated allowing for a payment rate of €325 per...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Responsibilities (7 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Ministers of State appointed to my Department and their areas of responsibility are as follows:Mr. Noel Grealish, T.D. : Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Food Promotion, New Markets, Research and Development – Minister Grealish attends Cabinet;Mr. Michael Healy-Rae, T.D. : Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Forestry, Horticulture and Farm Safety;Mr....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (7 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: Parents of pupils participating in the EU school milk scheme who attend DEIS classified schools are exempt from a parental contribution for their children's participation in the EU school milk scheme and accordingly receive school milk free of charge. A parental contribution is required for those pupils attending non DEIS classified schools. The parental contribution is offset against and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (7 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: A total of almost €454 million in payments has issued under ACRES to date. The issues which are impacting on the making of payments in respect of each year are primarily the transfers of contracts, late or non-submission of scorecards, and alignment of ACRES information with data held by the Department on other IT systems. My Department is actively resolving the remaining issues...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (7 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: Last August my Department published the Nitrates Derogation renewal plan “Water and Agriculture - a collaborative approach”. This plan includes a range of measures under five key areas, including regulatory changes which have been implemented, a 70% capital investment grant aid slurry importation scheme, accelerated capital allowances for manure storage investment, a €60...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (7 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The application process for the 2025 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS), Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS), Eco-Schemes and the other related schemes opened on 11 February 2025, which was over 1 week ahead of 2024. As of Thursday 1 May 2025, 82,240 applications have been received for BISS and other area-based schemes, which is approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (7 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: GAEC 2 is a mandatory condition of the payment of the Basic Income Support for Farmers (BISS). It is intended to protect peatlands and wetlands. The EU Regulation governing the CAP Strategic Plans requires all Member States to have a standard in place this year at the latest. I have no powers, statutory or otherwise, to defer the application of this requirement. The standard proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (7 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: Bovine Tuberculosis is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. I am acutely aware of the financial and emotional trauma associated with a TB breakdown, and the associated hardship for farming families. Left unchecked, this disease will impact many more farm families, and therefore it is essential that we take measures now that can reverse the current trends. In this context it is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Flood Relief Schemes (7 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: Following exceptional flooding in the Shannon Callows during the summer of 2023, on the 7th of November 2023 the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme was announced as a once-off measure. The aim of the scheme was to support farmers who had lost fodder due to flooding in the region during summer 2023. My Department contacted the farmers that the Area Monitoring System (AMS) identified as having been...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Septic Tanks (7 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grant aid to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. In January this year, I introduced an enhanced grant rate and a dedicated ceiling for Nutrient Storage investments. This 60% grant rate is open to all farmers, who submit applications in respect of slurry storage,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Wildlife Protection (7 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021, a Private Members Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the Dáil last November. When the Bill was proceeding through the Seanad my Department raised some concerns in relation to imposing a statutory ban on the importation of non-native honey bees as it could constitute a restriction on trade under EU Regulations. Advice was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (7 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I have been informed by my Department that the annual herd test for Mr. John Phelan has been postponed for one month and the herdowner has been informed.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Cycling Facilities (7 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The number of Cycle to Work Scheme applications processed and paid by my Department in the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive is as follows: Year No. of Applications 2020 109 2021 166 2022 106 2023 95 2024 87 The matter of the number of Cycle to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (7 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The 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. ...