Written answers

Thursday, 9 March 2023

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture Industry

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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387. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the cereal industry in this country continues to remain viable given the evidence of competition in the market place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12202/23]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish tillage sector is a sector that I am a huge proponent of and is an important and integral component of the Agri-Food industry. The importance of the sector was recognised in the recently released Climate Action Plan 2023 in which there is a target to increase the area in tillage to 400,000 hectares.

I am acutely aware of the current challenges being faced by the sector, including high input costs and lower forward grain prices compared to last year. The tillage sector is also facing competition from the dairy sector for land arising from obligations to comply with nitrates regulations.

I have backed this sector with new and innovative schemes in recent years. In response to the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia, I introduced the Tillage Incentive Scheme with a €400/ha payment on additional crop area. This Scheme delivered €10.1 million in support for the sector last year. I bolstered the existing Protein Scheme by guaranteeing a €300/ha payment on beans, peas and lupins and I also introduced a Protein Cereal mixed crop scheme. The Tillage Incentive Scheme is being continued in 2023 with a budget of €10 million.

In Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan, the budget for the Protein Aid Scheme has been increased from €3 million to €7 million. Last year, the Straw Incorporation Measure delivered €11.1 million in support to the sector and I have committed this hugely important measure to the new CAP.

Under TAMS III, the new Tillage Capital Investment Scheme will have a ceiling for investment of €90,000 and will include a range of new investments relevant for tillage. I also recently announced that ACRES will be extended to the 46,000 farmers that have applied to the Scheme.

I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to the tillage sector and its importance within the wider agricultural industry.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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388. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts being made to encourage grain growing given the effects on the industry of the ongoing war in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12203/23]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The tillage sector is an important and integral component of the Agri-food industry. It is a sector that I have backed with new and innovative schemes in recent years.

I am acutely aware of the current challenges being faced by the sector including high input costs and lower forward grain prices compared to last year.

In response to the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia, I introduced the Tillage Incentive Scheme (TIS) with a €400/ha payment on additional crop area. This Scheme delivered €10.1 million in support for the sector last year. I bolstered the existing Protein Scheme by guaranteeing a €300/ha payment on beans, peas and lupins and I also introduced a Protein Cereal mixed crop scheme. These measures have been acknowledged as contributing to the estimated 6% increase in tillage area, or an additional 20,000 hectares in 2022. The Tillage Incentive Scheme will continue this year with a budget of €10 million.

There is significant potential for tillage farmers to increase native production to replace cereal and protein imports for the livestock industry. The increase in Protein Aid from €3 million to €7 million in the current CAP Strategic Plan will facilitate an increase in protein crops and help deliver on this potential.

In 2021, I introduced the Straw Incorporation Measure which aims to improve our tillage soils. In 2022, this Measure has delivered €11.1 million in support for the tillage crops sector. I have committed this very important measure to the new CAP.

Under TAMS III, the new Tillage Capital Investment Scheme has a ceiling for investment of €90,000 and includes a range of new investments relevant for tillage. I also recently announced that ACRES will be extended to the 46,000 farmers that have applied to the Scheme.

My Department will continue to monitor the situation. I support the long-term viability of the tillage sector and will listen to and engage with the sector in the time ahead.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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389. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the poultry sector continues to be protected against disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12204/23]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In the context of the poultry sector continuing to protect against disease, good biosecurity is the overarching key preventative measure.

With regard to the risk from Avian Influenza, I have introduced Avian Influenza (Bio security Measures) Regulations and Avian Influenza (Precautionary Confinement of Birds) Regulations which remain in place. Wild birds continued to test positive for avian influenza in Ireland in recent weeks confirming that the virus is still circulating in the wild bird population, which remain a risk of spreading the infection to Irish poultry. These regulations will be lifted when appropriate to do so and based on risk assessments.

Implementing the highest levels of biosecurity remains the number one method of preventing and controlling the spread of disease amongst poultry and indeed other farmed animal species. The regulations listed above are supportive methods. My Department urges all poultry owners including backyard flock owners to be vigilant and to implement strict biosecurity on their premises, particularly by ensuring only essential personnel, vehicles and equipment have access to their flocks and minimising contact between poultry and wild birds. Flock-owners should also regularly monitor their birds for signs of disease. If they suspect Avian Influenza, they must report it immediately to their veterinary practitioner or to one of the Department’s Regional Veterinary Offices. The Department have plans in place to control the spread of disease should an outbreak of avian influenza be confirmed in an Irish poultry flock.

Fully funded Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health schemes are available to provide free biosecurity checks to farmers - this is organised through Animal Health Ireland. My Department has recently launched a biosecurity strategy that seeks to promote enhanced biosecurity on all farms to limit the risk of disease incursions.

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