Results 2,541-2,560 of 23,915 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As the deputy is aware, and as just outlined in my previous reply, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) was launched last year as a flagship environmental scheme under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. As we are all very much aware, and as discussed in this House earlier this year, there was exceptional demand...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I remain committed to the objective of Ireland being regarded internationally as a world leader in sustainable food systems, producing top quality, safe, nutritious, sustainable food. With a growing global population, it is critically important that countries like Ireland that can produce quality agricultural products from beef, to cereals to dairy products sustainably continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Earlier this year I tasked an independent group to review existing Department supports for Ash Dieback. The group had a remit to review the existing and previous supports available to landowners with ash plantations funded under the National Forestry Programme and to engage with relevant stakeholders to seek their views on the current supports for ash forest owners. The group presented me...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As the deputy is aware, and in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) was launched last year as a flagship environmental scheme under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 with a budget of €1.5bn over its duration. It was fantastic and a credit to our farmers to see the exceptional demand for entry into the ACRES...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Wastewater Treatment (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICW) are a recognised form of wastewater treatment that have been used to treat varying types of polluted water including those of industrial, domestic, and agricultural origin. All ICWs require planning permission and a discharge licence and only farmyard soiled water, as defined in the Nitrates Regulations, shall be allowed into an ICW. Prior to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Animal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government. Since taking office I have provided more support for animal welfare charity organisations then ever before. On the 7thof December, I announced funding of almost €6 million to 101 animal welfare charities nationwide, through the Animal Welfare Grants Programme. This is the largest award of grant funding to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Just Transition (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As part of the Climate Action Plan 2021, the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) undertook research into how a just transition approach to agriculture and land use in Ireland can ensure that climate targets are met in a manner that is socially inclusive, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable. The project was supported by a multi-stakeholder working group, on which my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

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. The Solar Capital Investment scheme, which...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Sector (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 34, 49, 62 and 447 together. The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) - the body approved in Ireland in accordance with relevant EU legislation to conduct testing, genetic evaluation and publication of breeding values for dairy and beef cattle - have recently updated beef breeding indexes. This was the first major update since 2015, based...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Forestry Programme 2023 -2027 has been approved by Government, and both the afforestation and forest roads schemes are open to applications, existing applications are being migrated over to these scheme as the applicants opt in. My Department has begun to issue afforestation and roads licences under the new Programme, while felling licences continued and continue to issue as normal. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As the deputy is aware, and in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) was launched last year as a flagship environmental scheme under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 with a budget of €1.5bn over its duration. It was fantastic and a credit to our farmers to see the exceptional demand for entry into the ACRES...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I fully support the Biomethane industry in Ireland and I am hugely optimistic about the potential growth of the industry. The Government has set the ambition to develop an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) industry in Ireland to deliver up to 5.7 TWh of indigenously produced biomethane per annum by 2030 with an interim target of 1 TWh by 2025. The development of a National Biomethane Strategy was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: On the fifth of April 2023, wool sector stakeholders from across the island come together to establish the all-island Irish Grown Wool Council. Members of the council were selected from a wide range of interests within the wool sector, including farmers; wool merchants; sheep shearers; educators; designers; crafters; as well as industry representatives and farming organisations. Department...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Labour Market (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The agri-food sector currently employs almost 165,000 people, representing 6.5% of total employment, of which just over 100,000 are working in primary agriculture. However, many farm holders and their family members work part-time on the land in addition to their main employment and the CSO census in 2020 indicated that there were 278,580 family and regular non-family workers on Irish farms....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I fully support the development of a Biomethane industry in Ireland and I am hugely optimistic about the potential growth of the industry. The Government has targeted the development of an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) industry in Ireland to deliver up to 5.7 TWh of indigenously produced biomethane per annum by 2030 with an interim target of 1 TWh by 2025. The development of a National...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Exports Growth (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The development of a FoodVision 2030, a 10-year strategy for the agri-food sector is a key commitment of the Programme for Government, which called for an ambitious blueprint for the sector for the years ahead. It has the aim of supporting family farms and employment in rural Ireland and adding value sustainably into the future, with a strategic focus on environmental protection. Mission...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: One of the primary disease mitigation measures of the bovine TB eradication programme is the routine surveillance of all bovines for the presence of bovine TB through the use of the Single Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin Test, more commonly known as the 'skin test' and, if applicable, the removal of “reactor” animals identified in herds. When an animal is tested for bovine...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Food Vision 2030, Ireland’s ten-year stakeholder led strategy for the agri-food sector, has the vision that Ireland will become a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) over the next decade. By adopting an integrated food systems approach, the strategy takes a detailed, systematic approach to address each aspect of the environment: climate, ammonia, biodiversity, water,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Costs (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am acutely aware of the impact input costs have on farmers, their families and businesses. I have supported them through challenging periods and will continue to do so. The latest CSO agricultural price index for September 2023 shows that there has been a consistent and significant reduction in fertiliser prices during the course of 2023 with prices dropping 45% since September 2022. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (14 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Food Vision 2030 is our shared stakeholder-led strategy for the continued development of the agri-food sector in Ireland, with the ambition for Ireland to be a “World Leader in Sustainable Food Systems". A sustainable food system is one that is profitable throughout (economic sustainability); has a positive or neutral impact on the natural environment (environmental sustainability);...