Results 11,041-11,060 of 24,065 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: From time to time, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine recruit ecologists and these are deployed into various Divisions of the Department. The most recent competition required a relevant degree at Level eight and at least 18 months satisfactory work experience as a professional ecologist, including assessing and evaluating biodiversity issues, such experience having been...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The table below indicates the number of farmer/non-farmer applicants that chose to establish forestry in the years 2015 to 2020.  The table shows the overall number of newly established forestry sites has been in decline recently.  There could be many reasons for this as farmers have many options open to them to manage their land, including the lease or sale of lands. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The draft CAP Strategic Plan regulation, currently under negotiation, requires that an analysis of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT analysis) and a Needs Assessment forms part of the CAP Strategic Plan prepared by each Member State. A SWOT analysis was accordingly undertaken as part of the development of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027, in which the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The UK is now operating outside the EU Single Market and Customs Union, and we are trading with the UK (excluding Northern Ireland) as we do with other non-EU countries.  The UK Government sets its own import policy, and has revised its timelines for the introduction of new controls on imports from the EU. The next phase of these controls comes into...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I was delighted to see the huge level of interest in the Results-Based Agri Environment Pilot (REAP) demonstrated by over 10,800 applications being received for the project. REAP is a pilot initiative designed to trial the results-based model on Irish farms. As this model is expected to feature under the new CAP, REAP will better place Irish farmers and their advisors...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The following table sets out the Exchequer funding allocated in 2021 related to COVID-19 measures.  Furthermore, provision was made for COVID-19 related spending in a number of administration areas, including on items such as PPE materials and IT costs related to remote working arrangements. These cannot be separately apportioned. Subhead Measure/scheme/ initiative...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The following table sets out the Exchequer funding allocated in 2020 related to COVID-19 measures.  Furthermore, there was COVID-19 related spending in a number of administration areas, including on items such as PPE materials and IT costs related to remote working arrangements.  These cannot be separately apportioned. Subhead Measure /scheme/initiative...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will appreciate that significant administrative resources in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are being utilised on an ongoing basis for Brexit related purposes, the cost of which cannot be isolated.  The following table sets out the additional Exchequer funding allocated to the Department in 2021 related to Brexit spending.  Subhead ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: In 2020, much of the work of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine focussed on Brexit preparedness and internal resources were re-prioritised accordingly.  The cost of same cannot be isolated, but specific additional provision was made in the areas set out in the following table: Subhead Measure/Scheme Brexit-related Exchequer funding allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The 10thamendment to the Rural Development Programme was recently approved by the EU Commission.  It provides for the possibility for the extension of the GLAS scheme in 2022.  As with all relevant Rural Development schemes, consideration of an extension will be subject to the availability of national funding through the annual budget process in the autumn.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The number of applications received under the Results-Based Agri Pilot Project (REAP) project are provided below. I was very pleased both with the application rate and to have secured places for almost 5,000 of these which was significantly above the original projection of 2,000. There are a number of agri-environment initiatives under the current CAP in which there are successful and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Organic Farming Scheme payment is computed on the basis of a minimum stocking rate of 32.5 kg per hectare per annum of livestock manure nitrogen.  This is the equivalent of 0.5 suckler cows per hectare, which is an extensive stocking rate. Farmers not achieving this stocking level receive payment on a pro-rata basis. A minimum stocking level is considered important in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Strategies (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The main objectives contained in the EU Action Plan for the Development of Organic Production is to increase consumer trust in organic food and to promote the conversion to and maintenance of organic farming methods. There is a strong corelation between the EU Action Plan and the targets contained in the Strategy for the Development of the Organic Sector.  I believe the current strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: There are a wide variety of items available under the suite of seven measures under TAMS II.  To date, total expenditure under the seven measures of the TAMS, including transitional expenditure, has reached in excess of  €290m with commitments of an additional €157m made to scheme participants who have yet to draw down those commitments. The rate of grant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Applications for forestry licences are assessed on their own merits, taking into consideration the potential impact the proposed operations may have on the surrounding countryside and environment.  The application is examined on its own and in combination with other plans and projects in the area.  There are several reasons why an application for a forestry licence may be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 639 and 640 together. There are likely to be many factors which affect the decisions by landowners not to proceed to planting, despite having received a licence to do so. In the first place, licences remain in place for three years and circumstances may change in that time. Land may change hands or other land-use opportunities may be availed of, and indeed,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The control of tree felling is regulated under the Forestry Act, 2014 and the Forestry Regulations, 2017 (SI number 191/2017).   The provision of a harvest plan at application stage is not a legal requirement.  However, applicants are encouraged to include them with their licence application.  Where not provided at application stage, the Department often subsequently...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Bodies (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The information requested is an operational matter for the 12 State Bodies under the aegis of the  Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and I have therefore referred the question to them for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Beef Taskforce was established by the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on foot of the beef sector agreement of 15th September 2019. The TaskForce is comprised of named individuals who were nominated at that time by the parties to that Agreement. The Beef Taskforce remit was to monitor the implementation of the actions arising from the agreement reached on 15th...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (22 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) is operationally independent of the Department and, as such, I cannot make enquiries into any individual appeal.  I have passed the query to the FAC and requested that they provide an update to the applicant on when they can expect to receive the outcome of the appeal.