Results 2,981-3,000 of 4,425 for speaker:Claire Kerrane

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: Obviously, that is really important work. Mr. McCormack is on the ground. He has talked about the challenges. Weather is obviously a bib one, as well as running costs and a reduction in yields. How much have the input costs for growers increased in the last year or two?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: We met with a couple of professors from Food Vision last week, which was really interesting. They were really pushing for a focus on what they considered to be a major priority, which was research and data. They spoke about the lack of same and the need to get a lot more information in order to better inform ourselves on how to grow and develop the sector. I asked them about the agrifood...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: I want to come back to the issue of workers. There is obviously a major challenge in this regard. It is up there with price for the sector. It is so important that the permit issue is sorted out. In terms of the horticultural courses that people go through, is there an on-the-ground element to them? We want to try to promote and expand those courses, but is there an on-the-ground element...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: Anything that can be done at second level to encourage students to go on would be good. Schools do a lot in that regard, particularly in transition year. Many actually grow fruit and vegetables on site. Getting young people involved at an early age is really important. Educating them at that point is essential and anything that can be done at that level for young people, before they even...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: I thank all our guests for coming in and for their very detailed opening statements. My first question is for the departmental officials. It is welcome that the horticulture support scheme is now open. It is needed. Mushroom and strawberry growers are being left out of this scheme. All the key challenges listed by the officials also impact on those growers, but I appreciate what the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: Is there a possibility the scheme could be oversubscribed? If it is, what will happen to applicants in those cases? Will there be a cap? I presume there will be if no extra money can be put into it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: I will move on to the national strategy. The budget allocation of €1.35 million that has been announced was mentioned. What is the overall cost of implementing that strategy in its entirety?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: I will put two other points to the Department. I then have a couple of questions for Teagasc. It has been raised with us, and I am asking whether the Department is aware of this, that inspections has increased. Growers are getting more inspections around commercial rates. That has been raised as an issue with us. Given that many of these growers are already struggling, that is a matter...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: It was just to flag it. I thank Ms Byrne.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: Turning to the representatives from Teagasc, data and research are very much missing and needed for the sector, and Teagasc does very valuable work in the work it has undertaken and the reports it produces regarding input costs, which is important. Nevertheless, the data and research aspect is one of the strategic actions and there is a lot more work to be done on that. Organisations and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Regulations (18 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: 220. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has carried out a review or impact assessment on the potential implications the changes to the current Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation may have on agricultural sectors in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45652/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (19 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: 199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if school transport will be provided to students (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45967/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (24 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: 278. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will sanction the retention of a third teacher in a school (details supplied), given the unprecedented increase in enrolment numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46295/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (24 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: 361. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will bring forward changes to the means test for carer's allowance to January 2024 rather than June 2024, given the hardship family carers are facing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46304/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (24 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: 419. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department provides annual funding to Irish farming organisations; the breakdown of funding allocations for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46132/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (24 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: 420. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that have been considered by his Department with regard to supporting access to land for young farmers and new entrants to agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46134/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (24 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: 427. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide flexibility for buying and submitting receipts for the national liming programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46236/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (24 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: 436. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average waiting times for receipt of bovine TB compensation in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46569/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (24 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: 437. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is possible for compensation for bovine TB to be expedited in some cases; what technology or mechanisms are used in the calculation of compensation for bovine TB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46570/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (24 Oct 2023)

Claire Kerrane: 442. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the forestry licensing plan for the remainder of 2023 and 2024, given the new forestry programme received approval several weeks ago and his Department has had more than nine months to have a plan ready; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46705/23]