Results 3,721-3,740 of 4,380 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (15 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 283 and 284 together. All investments under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) must meet the specifications set out in the terms and conditions of the Scheme. All generators are considered a fixed investment as they must be wired into the electrical system on the holding. Specification 106, which is published on my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tax Rebates (15 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Minister for Finance is responsible for tax policy and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners is responsible for the operation of the tax system and is independent in carrying out that function. They advise that the VAT treatment of goods and services is subject to EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. In accordance with the EU VAT Directive, farmers can elect whether to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies (15 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department established An Rialálaí Agraibhia (the Agri-Food Regulator) on the 13 December 2023 under the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023. An Rialálaí Agraibhia promotes fairness and transparency in the agri-food supply chain. The agency’s statutory remit and focus is on business to business relationships within the supply chain ensuring the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (15 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 to 289, inclusive, together. 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. The proposal submitted by my Department was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (15 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The person named submitted an application under the ACRES Co-operation stream and was approved into Tranche 1 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023. I can confirm that all ACRES payments in respect of 2023 have been finalised for this participant. My Department has received a request to transfer this ACRES contract to a partnership. A dedicated team is working on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (15 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I note that a response issued from my Department on 23 February 2024 to the course provider in respect of his request for review initially submitted on 9 January 2024. A fresh review of the application of the penalties in respect to the ACRES training courses in question will be undertaken, and will include the further information provided, and the Department will contact the course...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (15 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 293 together. Following the latest payment run on 12 May 2025, 43,575 ACRES participants, or just over 97%, are fully paid in respect of the 2023 scheme year. This means that 1,241 participants have not yet had their 2023 contract finalised, of which 947 have already received an interim payment of either €4,000 or €5,000. It should be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (15 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. The proposal was submitted by my Department and approved by the European Commission on 30th April 2025 and is now...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foreshore Issues (15 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I can assure the Deputy that my response to his previous question was accurate. However, I can provide more detailed information in this response to further assist the Deputy. Kerry County Council is primarily responsible for the development and maintenance of Renard Pier. The relevant parent department for Kerry County Council is the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan (13 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: At the moment, there is no known published scientific data or studies on the carbon footprint of Irish wool and therefore it is not possible to compare it to other textiles. One important aspect that would need to be considered in such a comparison is the longer life cycle of wool compared to other textiles and this would have a bearing on its carbon footprint. Recently, the Environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (13 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 916 and 917 together. The number of hectares of land newly licensed for afforestation in the years 2023 to date, by quarter, in tabular form is set out below. Afforestation H/a Licences Issued - Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Yearly Total 2023 86 47 47 610.80 789 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (13 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The table below illustrates the planting per quarter from 2023 to 7th May 2025 as requested. The Afforestation Scheme is demand led, and my department is pursuing a comprehensive communications strategy to promote the forestry options to farmers and other land owners. Already in 2025 there is a significant increase in afforestation planted on the same period last year. Year ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (13 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department will publish the Forestry Licensing Plan for 2025 in the coming weeks, taking account of developments on foot of the fallout from the recent storms, Darragh and Éowyn. The Plan will cover Afforestation, Roads, Private and Coillte felling licences. Now that the satellite assessment of the extent of the damage is complete, my Department can assess information being...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Energy Usage (13 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Climate Action Roadmap outlines activities aiming to achieve a 51% reduction in carbon emissions and 50% more energy efficient by 2030 and net zero by 2050, in line with the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and Public Sector Mandate. These measures include infrastructure investment, service improvements and behavioural changes. My Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (13 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The person named submitted an application under the ACRES General stream and was approved into Tranche 2 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2024. To date this case has not passed all the required 2024 advance payment validations due to an unresolved issue on the commonage claim. The case is being worked on and I expect this issue to be resolved in the coming weeks. My...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Colleges (13 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has no role in reviewing individual education courses for ‘trained farmer’ status to enable qualifying farmers avail of certain tax reliefs and scheme payments. As the leading provider of agricultural education courses in Ireland, Teagasc is responsible by law for assessing whether individual courses meet the agreed requirements for ‘trained...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Marine Institute (13 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 923 to 925, inclusive, together. My Department supports the provision of essential training and skills development for those working, or intending to work, in the Irish commercial seafood sector in a number of ways. My Department funds two National Fisheries Colleges of Ireland operated by our national seafood development agency Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM),...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies (13 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 926 to 929, inclusive, and 933 together. Non-Governmental Organisations do not operate under the aegis of my Department. However, my Department provides funding to a number of Non-Governmental Bodies which support the State’s objectives and provide services to sectors relevant to my Department ‘s area of operation. For example, my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (13 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 930 to 932, inclusive, and 934 together. Funding from my Department is provided in line with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform Circular numbered 13 of 2014 entitled 'Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds'. In line with this circular, funding is provided based on vouched expenditure and only after...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (13 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: Currently, my Department has no plans to introduce mandatory dipping for sheep. Farmers participating in the 2025 National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS) can opt to complete a voluntary plunge dipping action for the control of external parasites in their flocks. The payment rate for this option is €5 per breeding ewe and if undertaken in conjunction with two mandatory actions would...