Results 2,461-2,480 of 23,950 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1206, 1205, 1207 and 1208 together. In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) was launched in 2022 as the flagship environmental scheme under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027, with a total budget of €1.5 billion. The funding allocation for the ACRES scheme in 2023 was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The second tranche of my Department’s agri-environment scheme, ACRES, opened for the submission of applications on 24thNovember 2023, and closed on 13thDecember, 2023. Over 9,200 applications for this tranche were received. The bulk of Tranche 2 applications have been submitted under the ACRES General stream, with thirty percent of applicants applying under ACRES Co-operation. Tranche...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I was delighted to announce last October the opening of the second phase of the Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme. This programme opened for applications on 16thOctober and closed on 10thNovember 2023. In total 7,000 applicants were approved to participate in the programme. The Irish Soil Expert Consortium has commenced soil sampling and aims to get the majority of the farms sampled in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland is legally obliged to implement all changes to regulations with effect from the date that they come into force. The changes to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 that came into effect on the 9th of October 2023 related to amending the list of certain protected zones, associated protected zone quarantine pests as well as prohibitions and special requirements for introduction into...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, a flagship environmental scheme, namely the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), was launched in 2022. There was exceptional demand for entry into the Scheme, which demonstrates the interest of farmers to take on actions to address climate, biodiversity, and environmental issues. While it was initially planned to take...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. There is an indicative budget of €370 million available for the period 2023-2027, and all investments must be linked to Climate, Environment or Animal Welfare. Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 closed on 30 June 2023,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: There is currently a range of Agtech equipment included in the TAMS 3 schemes, including items such as GPS machinery control, yield monitoring, health and fertility monitoring systems, grass growth monitoring systems, robotic slurry scrapers and automatic calf feeders. The required validation protocols for new technologies will vary by product and intended usage. Teagasc, the State...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Adoption of technologies on farm can help reduce emissions. A number of these technologies are being currently being supported by my Department, particularly under CAP Strategic Plan, while others are cost beneficial in their own right. Funding from the CAP Strategic Plan has increased the adoption of numerous efficiency measures, including both the Beef Environmental Efficiency...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: There is currently a range of Agtech equipment included in the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) schemes, which provide grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. This includes items such as GPS machinery control, yield monitoring, health and fertility monitoring systems, grass growth monitoring systems,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The horticulture and poultry sectors make a valuable contribution to Irish agri-food industry as a whole, supporting significant levels of direct and indirect employment as well as their role in supporting the rural economy and the wider national economy. The CSO valued the output of the poultry meat sector at €225.7 million for 2023 and the horticulture sector had a farmgate value of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Data (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Grant awards are made periodically by my Department for ‘public good’ research projects. These projects are undertaken by researchers in eligible Irish Research Performing Organisations following competitive Calls for Research Proposals. The final report of all funded projects is published on my Department’s website. Some projects may have collaborating research...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Information and Communications Technology (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Since the implementation of EU regulations requiring that all applications for direct payments must be received electronically by 2018, my Department has implemented a programme of continuous development and improvement of its application systems. An example of one such improvement is the warning messages to help farmers and advisors where common errors have been detected. These have expanded...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. It is acknowledged that siltation continues to be a problem in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre and my Department is awaiting consideration of an appeal made to an Bord Pleanála on planning permission that Fingal County Council granted for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. There is an indicative budget of €370 million available for the period 2022-2027, and all investments must be linked to Climate, Environment or Animal Welfare. There is currently a range of Agtech equipment...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy may be aware, intake into the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is on a phased basis, in two tranches. The Government has committed €1.5 billion to ACRES over the duration of the scheme to facilitate the participation of 50,000 farmers. The funding provided in Budget 2024 facilitates the acceptance of some 4,000 applicants under Tranche 2 into ACRES to bring...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Work Permits (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: In recent years, as the economy has been approaching full employment, the use of employment permits has become more important for the agri-food sector. Although this issue is primarily the responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), my Department liaises on these matters as they affect agri-food. Following the Review of Economic Migration Policy by an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Since the time my Department was first approached with regard to the group commonly referred to as forgotten farmers, the group was defined as young farmers who were under the age of 40 in 2015, had established their holdings prior to 2008 and held no or low value payment entitlements. In recognition of the withdrawal of the Installation Aid Scheme in October 2008, and following my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The published report was submitted to my Department by Bord Bia last month and is currently being reviewed. As an initial step my officials met with the consultant and Bord Bia last week and went through the report in some detail. The report will now be discussed with relevant stakeholders before any further decisions are made.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I can confirm that an application for Tranche 2 of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) was submitted on behalf of the person named. In Budget 2024 I increased the allocation for ACRES by €40m, bringing the total 2024 scheme allocation to €200 million - a substantial increase on the 2023 budget of €160 million. The provision of additional funding will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Jan 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, a flagship environmental scheme, namely the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), was launched last year. There was exceptional demand for entry into the Scheme, which demonstrates the interest of farmers to take on actions to address climate, biodiversity and environmental issues. While it was initially planned to take...