Results 22,341-22,360 of 24,065 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Industry (10 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy has previously been advised, the Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme 2023 aimed to provide assistance to inshore fishers in adjusting their business operations as a result of the impacts of Brexit. The scheme had a budget of some €3.5 million and was administered by an Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) under the oversight of my Department. Applications under...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (11 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The 2024 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector opened for applications on 08 November 2023 and closed on 10 January 2024. The Scheme which has a budget of €10 million in 2024 is intended to assist in the development of the horticulture sector, including beekeeping, by grant aiding capital investments in specialised plant and equipment. All...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (11 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland's existing forest estate is an important and expanding supply of timber for the construction sector with significant amounts of timber exported to the UK and abroad. The recent COFORD "All Island Roundwood Production Forecast" predicts that the annual potential supply of roundwood timber will increase from around 5.6 million in 2023 to 7.9 million cubic metres by 2025. This supply of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (11 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Both the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) and ACRES terms and conditions advise that farmers may participate in both schemes, but for certain actions payment will be foregone in OFS in order to avoid double funding. As per the ACRES terms and conditions: “Organic Farmers can apply for the ACRES General approach under Tier 1 provided they are registered with, and approved as, an organic...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Industry (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this matter. He is absolutely right; it has been a really stressful time for farmers throughout the country. It has been an unprecedentedly long winter in many ways, with animals being housed, in many cases, from last September up to today. That is the guts of a seven-month winter and puts massive pressure on farmers. Dairy farmers are going out to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Industry (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I know Senator Gallagher is a strong advocate for the farming community across his Cavan-Monaghan constituency and is in tune with farmers there and the pressure they are under. It has been a difficult year in his locality, as it has been in many other parts of the country. We have been conscious of that in government. As Minister I have worked to make sure we have responded as this has...

Seanad: Agriculture: Statements (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Acting Chairperson and Seanadóirí for scheduling these statements today. It is important that we discuss this as it is an acute issue and it has been a very difficult time for farmers in all sectors and all parts of the country.As we know, it has been an exceptionally long winter. Going back as far as the ploughing championships last year in early September, the rain...

Seanad: Agriculture: Statements (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Cathaoirleach and all our contributors. It was a very comprehensive debate that covered all parts of the country and dealt with the many sectors under significant pressure at present. I thank Senators Paul Daly, Mullen, Lombard, Hoey, Joe O'Reilly, Malcolm Byrne, McGreehan, Maria Byrne, Dooley, Kyne and Cummins for taking the time to give their insights into the challenges we...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The trade and movement of plants and plant products into and within the EU is governed by the EU Plant Health Regulation 2031 of 2016 and the Official Controls Regulations 625 of 2017. These Regulations also harmonise rules in other areas, including surveillance for pests of plant health and actions to be taken in the event of the confirmation of the presence of specific plant pests. My...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: 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. In December, 2023 I announced record funding...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: National Archives (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is currently working with Officials from the National Archives in relation to identifying and cataloguing the former Irish Land Commission records with a view to ultimately transferring the collection to the National Archive from where the records can eventually be made available to the public. The public can expect some records from the former Land Commission (e.g. Fair Rent...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is the competent Authority for consent to build forest roads and entrances in Ireland, through the forest road licensing system, with the exception of forest roads involving the development of new entrances from National Roads. Where new entrances or material widening of existing entrances is required, planning permission is required from relevant local Authorities, prior to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland receives a fixed annual funding allocation for the School Milk Scheme from the EU Commission of €830,000. This sum is insufficient to cover the costs of the scheme in its current format. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Dairy Farmers who declare their 2024 dairy cow nutrient excretion rate band through the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), can avail of the option to declare their intention to manage the crude protein in concentrates fed to their cows in 2024. Farmers wishing to avail of this facility must use the ICBF portal to confirm their 2024 nutrient excretion rate band. The portal shows the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Nitrates Directive (Council Directive 91/676/EEC, as amended)) sets out that for each farm, the amount of livestock manure applied to land each year, including by the livestock themselves, can not exceed an amount containing 170 kg of nitrogen per hectare (N/ha) in the absence of a derogation. It is unfortunately not possible to consider allowing a farmer’s previous years...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: In March 2022 I established the National Fodder and Food Security Committee. The remit of the Committee is to prepare an industry response, contingency plans and advice to assist farmers in managing their farm enterprises through difficult periods. In recognition of the ongoing and challenging weather conditions, I asked the Chairman to reconvene the Committee to establish the most up to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Mental Health Services (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: This Government has prioritised farm safety, health and well-being. Dedicated funding of €2.5m was allocated in Budget 2024 for a range of initiatives including initiatives to support increased awareness of the importance of mental health among farmers. My Department, along with the HSE and the Department of Health, is co-funding a farmers physical and mental health awareness...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Work is continuing on the calculation and processing of ACRES year one payments, and these payments are expected to issue by the end of June. ACRES General advance payments commenced on December 15th 2023, and approximately 19,719 farmers were paid a total of €88.356 million by early February 2024. Due in particular to the additional complexity associated with payments to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 541 to 543, inclusive, together. The table below shows the current number of permanent full-time equivalent (FTE) staff working in all three forestry divisions in my Department: Forestry Division, Forest Sector Development (FSD) Division and Forestry Inspectorate Division (including ecology/archaeology). Please note also that listed staff are involved in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Both Helvick Pier and Dungarvan Harbour are the responsibility of Waterford City and County Council. The responsibility for the development and maintenance of local authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each local authority in the first instance. The primary governance role for local authorities rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and any...