Results 2,681-2,700 of 23,944 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: There is no funding provided by my Department for the specific purpose of upgrading mart infrastructure to meet health and safety standards. The support my Department provided in 2023 was for existing marts to upgrade their equipment following the introduction of mandatory electronic identification (EID) of cattle. The Mart EID Upgrade Scheme closed on 10th November 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has significantly increased the number of permanent ecologists working in the Department over the last number of years. The Department also utilise ecologists on a contract basis. Permanent ecologists now work in several Divisions of my Department and provide useful expertise as we are dealing with biodiversity related policy and scheme delivery matters. Earlier this year a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: At the beginning of this year, I announced a capital investment package of €37.3m for the six Fishery Harbour Centres as part of the 2023 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. This includes a number of projects valued over €100,000 and costs of the works intended to be undertaken within 2023. Details of the project allocation are available in tabular...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department’s agri-environment scheme, ACRES, requires an agricultural activity on the parcels included in a farmer’s contract, as set out in the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. Notwithstanding this, the new CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (CSP) allows for areas of established woodland to be regarded as a beneficial feature in agricultural parcels, thus allowing for these...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 provides a range of schemes to support the establishment and management of forests. Ireland's recently published Forest Strategy recognises the importance of forests and the wide range of ecosystem services they provide. Sustainably managed forests also make a significant contribution to the rural economy and contribute to Ireland's climate targets by removing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Sector (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) is 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 predominately on changing economic drivers such as feed costs and beef...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 604 and 618 together. The Terms and Conditions for Tranche 2 of ACRES are published on my Department’s website. One of the eligibility requirements for a farmer to participate is the submission of a Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application for 2022. A further requirement is that all lands must also be declared in the applicant’s 2023 Basic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Promoting and safeguarding plant health is a key strategic principle of the Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy 2020-2025. Ireland is a contracting party of the International Plant Protection Convention of the United Nations, as well as an active member of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation and is cooperating with countries around the world developing global...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Policy (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: A key part of the Land Use Review is consideration of how land users and other relevant stakeholders should be engaged in the on-going production of the land use knowledge base; the co-creation of a shared vision on the transition in land use; the formulation of priorities that will inform a National Land Use Strategy; and the design of evidence-based and collaborative plans and actions. At...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: In December 2018, it was announced that vessels over 18 metres would be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines from 1 January 2020. This decision to exclude vessels over 18 metres from trawling inside the six nautical miles was the subject of extended legal proceedings following a Judicial Review to the High Court taken by two applicant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (12 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. Following the success of TAMS II, which closed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (12 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. Tranche 1 of TAMS 3 closed on 30 June 2023,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 610 and 621 together. On 16 November, I announced an additional €7.147 million in state funding to support the tillage sector. This additional national support represents a 100% top-up to the €7.147 million allocated under the EU Agricultural Reserve which was announced in early October. This state funding is being used to support growers...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Generally, approval for payment under the TAMS scheme takes place within two months following the receipt of the claim for payment, together with valid supporting documentation and the completion of investments in accordance with specifications. Payment then issues to 100% of cleared cases within three weeks of approval for payment, when it has been determined that the work has been...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: There is no funding provided by my Department in the form of start-up/re-opening grants for rural businesses including livestock marts. The support my Department provided in 2023 was for existing marts to upgrade their equipment following the introduction of mandatory electronic identification (EID) of cattle. The Mart EID Upgrade Scheme closed on 10th November 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Policies (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is the lead for 148 of the actions in the Agriculture, Food, and the Marine chapter of the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future. As of December 2023, I can report that 72% of these as either “target achieved” or “substantial action undertaking & ongoing”, with another 24% reported as “commenced & progressing”. Some...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Control of Horses Act 1996 (the Act) provides powers to local authorities, enabling them to control stray and wandering horses in their geographical areas. Enforcement of the Act is a matter for the relevant local authority, in this case Cork City and County Councils. My Department provides funding to local authorities as a contribution towards the costs incurred by them in operation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Control of Horses (COH) Act 1996 (the Act) provides powers to local authorities, enabling them to control stray and wandering horses in their geographical areas. Enforcement of the Act is a matter for the relevant local authority, in this case Cork City Council. My Department provides funding to local authorities as a contribution towards the costs incurred by them in operation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department and I are fully committed to supporting sustainable, One Health, One Welfare initiatives in line with the Programme for Government and Working Together for Animal Welfare, Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025 and continue to support a number of urban horse projects nationwide. These projects can foster community leadership and education in responsible horse ownership for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (12 Dec 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Following exceptional flooding in the Shannon Callows during summer 2023 on 7 November 2023, I announced the launch of the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to support farmers who have lost fodder due to flooding in the region during summer 2023. I have allocated funding of approximately €800,000 which will allow for a payment rate of up to €325 per hectare...