Results 3,221-3,240 of 23,944 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: In response to increased input costs arising from the war in Ukraine, I introduced the Liming Programme earlier this year. This was a once-off measure to incentivise the use of ground limestone, commonly called lime, a natural soil conditioner which corrects soil acidity, make nutrients more available for plant uptake, and improves overall soil health. This in turn has a positive impact on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The core payment for ACRES Co-operation Project participants is determined by results-based scoring. As I'm sure the Deputy can appreciate, in order to avoid double funding for actions on the same land, there is an additional payment for Organics farmers in ACRES, but at a reduced rate, once the baseline requirements for the Organic Farm Scheme are met. I can assure you that Organic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: At the outset, it must be noted that CAP payments, including those made under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme, are governed by EU regulations and are subject to rigorous audit and control by the European Commission. It is important that applicants meet all the eligibility requirements for the ANC Scheme and other area-based schemes they have applied to participate in in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Securing the continuance of a nitrates directive for Irish farmers is Government policy. It was in the last Programme for Government and remains a policy position. I will work with farmers to improve water quality which is key to securing that derogation in the next round of negotiations and into the future. The Nitrates Directive sets down strict scientific criteria in respect to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II) closed to applications on 16 December 2022. To date this extremely successful scheme has paid out in excess of €425 million in respect of 35,457 payment claims. A...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Costs (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The table below sets out the latest available CSO Agricultural Price Index for fertilisers which covers the period August 2021 to August 2023: I am happy to share what is a detailed table with the Deputy after this engagement. Date Aug-21 100.2 Sep-22 231.6 Sep-21 104.3 Oct-22 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Areas of Natural Constraints scheme provides payments to people farming land in designated areas who face significant hardships from factors such as remoteness, difficult topography, climatic problems, and poor soil conditions. Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 underpins the sustainable development of Ireland’s agriculture sector by:supporting viable farm incomes...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: On the fifth of April 2023, over 50 stakeholders from the wool sector in both Ireland and Northern launched 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....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As part of the work of the TB Forum, a dedicated Financial Working Group was established to review the financial modelling of various elements of the Bovine TB Eradication programme. In March 2023, this Financial Working Group reached agreement on various enhancements to the Income Supplement Scheme, the Hardship Grant and the Depopulation Grant as well as enhanced ceilings for select...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department provides significant support to the sheep sector under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), through a targeted scheme for sheep farmers - the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) - as well as other CSP interventions such as ACRES and the Organic Farming Scheme which are open to both specialist sheep and mixed beef and sheep enterprises. This is a priority sector for me and was a key focus of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am acutely aware and fully appreciate the many challenges that horticulture growers have experienced in 2023 as a result of continued high costs of production and reduced output prices. These challenges were further compounded by the unfavourable weather conditions throughout the 2023 growing season. In recognition of these challenges I secured €2.382 million under the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Functions (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department supports farmers in the delivery of biodiversity through voluntary actions, such as agri-environmental schemes but also by implementing regulations designed to protect our biodiversity. In the first instance, conditionality controls in respect of Common Agricultural policy payments are part of this approach. Conditionality is a set of Statutory Management Requirements...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy has clarified that she is primarily interested in Consanguinity Relief from Stamp Duty. My colleague the Minister for Finance carried out a review of the measure in advance of Budget 2024, which was published on budget day. Arising from that review, the Government decided to extend Consanguinity Relief from Stamp Duty for a further five years. This is a hugely important relief to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Regulatory Bodies (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The primary legislation required to establish An Rialálaí Agraibhia, the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act was signed into law by President Higgins on 11th of July. This is a true delivery for me having spearheaded this initiative while in opposition, securing its inclusion in the programme for Government, advancing it through all stages of the legislative process and now into...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will be aware that in June 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia,, I launched the €56 million Fodder Support Scheme. The aim of the scheme was to incentivise farmers, in particular drystock farmers, to grow more fodder (silage and/or hay) to reduce the risk of animal welfare issues over the 2022 winter and 2023 spring. Building on the success of the 2022 Fodder...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hen Harriers (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I was delighted to announce that I have increased the allocation for ACRES by €40m bringing the total scheme allocation to €200 million – this is a substantial increase on the 2023 budget of €160 million. The provision of additional funding will allow us to deliver on the Government’s commitment to have 50,000 farmers participating in ACRES, our flagship...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP28, will be the 28th United Nations Climate Change conference, held from November 30 until December 12 at the Expo City, Dubai. I would like to highlight that as part of the COP28 preparations, the COP Presidency has set out within their Action Agenda a focus on putting nature, people, lives and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Geographical Indications identify a product whose quality, reputation or other such characteristics are linked to its geographical origin. My Department, as the Competent Authority for Protected Geographical Indications (PGI), checks PGI applications to ensure that the application and product specification are compliant with the relevant European Commission Regulations governing the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Oct 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, or ACRES, is the central agri-environment climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. It is a flagship agri-environmental project with funding of €1.5bn committed over the scheme lifetime. This is the largest amount ever committed to an agri-environment scheme. Tranche 1 of ACRES opened for applications on 17th...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Oct 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. My Department maintains a registered list of competent installers to carry out solar PV installations under TAMS 3. The latest version of the list is available on the Department’s website. Versions of the list...