Results 1,521-1,540 of 23,906 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

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

Charlie McConalogue: A total of 889 applications were received from 770 farmers under the first two tranches of the Tillage Capital Investment Scheme, which opened in May last year. These applicants had a total land area of 93,617 hectares, with an average farm size of 122 hectares. It should be noted that applicants are permitted to submit multiple applications under the scheme. For example, a tillage...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Tillage Incentive Scheme (TIS) is a support Measure for farmers to incentivise the increase in the eligible tillage crop area in order to assist in reducing the dependency on imported feed material. The Scheme is funded from a National Exchequer allocation to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine provided to offset some of the negative impacts of the Russian invasion of...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Tillage Capital Investment Scheme is a measure under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3). As outlined in the terms and conditions of the scheme, eligible applicants must have a minimum area of 15 hectares of eligible crops declared under their Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) Payment Scheme, or equivalent, in the year of application, or previous year....

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Reconstitution Ash Dieback Scheme 2023-2027 is contained within the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 and was introduced on 24/07/2023. Through the Reconstitution Scheme, DAFM financial support can be made available for: a) Site clearance: This involves the clearance of ash trees and associated operations in order to present the site for reconstitution. b) Reconstitution: This involves...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 to 110, inclusive, together. The funding for the Reconstitution scheme is capital funding and there is no current funding involved. My colleague, Minister of State Pippa Hackett will be announcing further actions shortly to deal with ash dieback which will increase demand for the reconstitution scheme and encourage entry into the scheme during the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (17 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Johne’s disease is a chronic enteric disease of cattle and other ruminants, caused by infection with the bacterium Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). The disease is notifiable in Ireland under S.I. 130 of 2016 concerning the Notification and Control of Diseases affecting Terrestrial Animals. While my Department does not capture prevalence and distribution figures...

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

Charlie McConalogue: My Department considers all applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended) and applicable National and EU legislation. The licensing process is complex and involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisors, as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Industry (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this matter. He is absolutely right; it has been a really stressful time for farmers throughout the country. It has been an unprecedentedly long winter in many ways, with animals being housed, in many cases, from last September up to today. That is the guts of a seven-month winter and puts massive pressure on farmers. Dairy farmers are going out to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Industry (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I know Senator Gallagher is a strong advocate for the farming community across his Cavan-Monaghan constituency and is in tune with farmers there and the pressure they are under. It has been a difficult year in his locality, as it has been in many other parts of the country. We have been conscious of that in government. As Minister I have worked to make sure we have responded as this has...

Seanad: Agriculture: Statements (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Acting Chairperson and Seanadóirí for scheduling these statements today. It is important that we discuss this as it is an acute issue and it has been a very difficult time for farmers in all sectors and all parts of the country.As we know, it has been an exceptionally long winter. Going back as far as the ploughing championships last year in early September, the rain...

Seanad: Agriculture: Statements (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Cathaoirleach and all our contributors. It was a very comprehensive debate that covered all parts of the country and dealt with the many sectors under significant pressure at present. I thank Senators Paul Daly, Mullen, Lombard, Hoey, Joe O'Reilly, Malcolm Byrne, McGreehan, Maria Byrne, Dooley, Kyne and Cummins for taking the time to give their insights into the challenges we...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The trade and movement of plants and plant products into and within the EU is governed by the EU Plant Health Regulation 2031 of 2016 and the Official Controls Regulations 625 of 2017. These Regulations also harmonise rules in other areas, including surveillance for pests of plant health and actions to be taken in the event of the confirmation of the presence of specific plant pests. My...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Each year my Department invites eligible animal welfare charities to submit a funding application through the Animal Welfare grants programme. To qualify, applicants must meet specified requirements, which are made available through the application process, with awards made on the basis of objective criteria which are reviewed on an annual basis. In December, 2023 I announced record funding...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: National Archives (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is currently working with Officials from the National Archives in relation to identifying and cataloguing the former Irish Land Commission records with a view to ultimately transferring the collection to the National Archive from where the records can eventually be made available to the public. The public can expect some records from the former Land Commission (e.g. Fair Rent...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is the competent Authority for consent to build forest roads and entrances in Ireland, through the forest road licensing system, with the exception of forest roads involving the development of new entrances from National Roads. Where new entrances or material widening of existing entrances is required, planning permission is required from relevant local Authorities, prior to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland receives a fixed annual funding allocation for the School Milk Scheme from the EU Commission of €830,000. This sum is insufficient to cover the costs of the scheme in its current format. Parents of pupils participating in the EU school milk scheme who attend DEIS classified schools are exempt from a parental contribution for their children's participation in the EU school milk...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Dairy Farmers who declare their 2024 dairy cow nutrient excretion rate band through the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), can avail of the option to declare their intention to manage the crude protein in concentrates fed to their cows in 2024. Farmers wishing to avail of this facility must use the ICBF portal to confirm their 2024 nutrient excretion rate band. The portal shows the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Nitrates Directive (Council Directive 91/676/EEC, as amended)) sets out that for each farm, the amount of livestock manure applied to land each year, including by the livestock themselves, can not exceed an amount containing 170 kg of nitrogen per hectare (N/ha) in the absence of a derogation. It is unfortunately not possible to consider allowing a farmer’s previous years...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: In March 2022 I established the National Fodder and Food Security Committee. The remit of the Committee is to prepare an industry response, contingency plans and advice to assist farmers in managing their farm enterprises through difficult periods. In recognition of the ongoing and challenging weather conditions, I asked the Chairman to reconvene the Committee to establish the most up to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Mental Health Services (16 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: This Government has prioritised farm safety, health and well-being. Dedicated funding of €2.5m was allocated in Budget 2024 for a range of initiatives including initiatives to support increased awareness of the importance of mental health among farmers. My Department, along with the HSE and the Department of Health, is co-funding a farmers physical and mental health awareness...