Results 301-320 of 1,016,880 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Paul Murphy) in 'Committee meetings'

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (25 Apr 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: In 2011, 73,000 people declared their occupation to be farmers. In 2016, this had fallen to approximately 69,000 people who declared their occupation to be farmers. In the 2022 census, this had fallen again to 61,000 people who declared their occupation to be farmers. This is an 11% decrease and an acceleration in the number of people who are no longer self-identifying as a farmer because...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department monitors the information on farms and the wider agrifood sector. We do that in collaboration with Teagasc and the Central Statistics Office, and that is ongoing at all times. The number of farms in Ireland is recorded every ten years in the CSO census of agriculture, most recently in 2010 and 2020. In addition, the CSO undertakes farm structure surveys periodically between...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Forestry Sector (25 Apr 2024)

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett): I accept people’s frustration. They have been waiting a long time, but it is important that we get this right. This is not just a decision for me to make in my Department. Rather, it requires engagement across the Government, in particular with the Department of public expenditure. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Forestry Sector (25 Apr 2024)

Claire Kerrane: The Minister of State is asking those affected to use the reconstitution scheme, but we all know what the independent review thought about that scheme, namely that it was insufficient. In fact, the review went much further than that in its criticism of the scheme. Why would we ask farmers and others affected to avail of a scheme that, following examination, has been found to be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Forestry Sector (25 Apr 2024)

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett): I assure the Deputy that meetings on this issue are happening every day in order to get it over the line and get it right. The independent review group did good work. The Deputy made some disparaging comments about its work-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Forestry Sector (25 Apr 2024)

Claire Kerrane: No, I did not.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Forestry Sector (25 Apr 2024)

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett): -----and claimed that it had simply told us everything we already knew.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Forestry Sector (25 Apr 2024)

Claire Kerrane: True.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Forestry Sector (25 Apr 2024)

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett): That was not quite fair. We doubled the clearance rate grant. One of the recommendations was that we increase that. The reconstitution scheme is the first step towards any support that might be put in place for farmers. They have to go through this step. There is no point in waiting;...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (25 Apr 2024)

Departmental Staff

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (25 Apr 2024)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 57. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of employees employed by his Department at the end of 2022 and at the end of 2023; the current numbers for 2024; if there is an embargo on recruitment in his Department at the moment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18678/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (25 Apr 2024)

Michael Fitzmaurice: How many people were employed by the Department at the end of 2022 and at the end of 2023 and what are the present numbers? Is it true that there is an embargo on recruiting people into his Department until others retire? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Over the past five years, my Department's business needs have grown significantly. In 2018, its workforce totalled 3,336 staff. The Department has increased its staffing numbers considerably since then in order to ensure that we meet our commitment to deliver a quality service to all in the agricultural community and to all other citizens who depend on my Department for overseeing food...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (25 Apr 2024)

Michael Fitzmaurice: That is less.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: No. At the end of last year, it was 4,007. The current number is up ten on that, although it is similar. Our payroll budget is just over €250 million per year. This finances our salary and allowance costs for the full year of 2024. While my Department has not issued an embargo on staffing, as is borne out by the numbers employed and the figures on which I have given the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (25 Apr 2024)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister for his reply. As he may be aware, new conditions are coming in from Europe every year. The export of slurry is an example. Obviously, such new conditions require resources, as do the various schemes that the Minister introduces. What I am hearing from inside the Department is that people are being told that, if they are short staffed, then they will not get new staff...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Local authorities play a role in providing services to some small abattoirs. Generally, there can be challenges with the availability of vets in various parts of the country, but my Department is committed to ensuring that this service is properly resourced and companies are facilitated as necessary and to working with local authorities, which have a role in respect of small abattoirs. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (25 Apr 2024)

Michael Fitzmaurice: For the Minister's information, there is fierce confusion among small abattoirs about the so-called new legislation that is under discussion. Councils are basically washing their hands of abattoirs and say that, since they do not have the resources, they will not go near them. One council has actually refused to help. The Minister is well aware of that situation. I have submitted a formal...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (25 Apr 2024)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I am extremely concerned and I am sure the Minister is too. The adverse conditions have been really bad. There have been serious concerns around livestock and tillage. The Minister knows the spring crops such as barley have not been sown yet, even in County Louth, which is normally a very dry county. I ask the Minister again if he intends to reinstate the fodder schemes. There has been...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: This Government has been very responsive and supported farmers in times of need and in the medium to long term, by means of significant investment. The CAP, which will run up to 2027, offers 50% higher funding. That is a record increase in Government funding. Over the past two or three years, where sectors have been under pressure, be it the pig sector, the horticulture sector or the...