Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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475. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated full-year cost of returning a payment for both of two schemes combined (details supplied), based on the most recent participation figures at hand, in tabular form. [40984/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In Budget 2025, I secured additional exchequer funding to increase supports for primary production in the beef sector.

There are two existing schemes to support suckler beef farmers – the CSP Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) and the 2024 Beef Welfare Scheme (BWS).

Farmers participating in both schemes who correctly complete all the action requirements can currently expect to receive a combined payment of €200 per cow / calf pair.

No change is anticipated to current payment rates under the SCEP as a result of Budget 2025.

The additional funding that I secured will be targeted towards increasing payment rates by €25 per head under the BWS in 2025 which will allow a combined maximum payment from both schemes of €225 per cow / calf pair next year.

In order to increase BWS per head payment rates in the increments suggested by the Deputy, the total scheme budget allocation would have to increase to the amounts set out in the table below.

However, it is important to note that the number of participants and animals eligible for payment under any beef scheme will depend on a variety of factors such as general market conditions at the time of launch, the menu of actions required to draw down the maximum payment, compliance rates for those actions and the extent to which the action options are suited to particular production systems in the target population.

Any increase in scheme funding is subject to State Aid considerations.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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476. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated full-year cost of returning a payment for a scheme (details supplied), based on the most recent participation figures at hand, in tabular form. [40985/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Budget 2025 sent a strong message of support for farmers engaged in the production of dairy beef calves.

Earlier this year, I published a 10-point plan to develop and support our growing Dairy Beef sector. To further encourage this development, I am doubling the current payment per eligible calf to €40. As my aim is to encourage greater integration of the dairy and beef sectors, the targeting of this allocation is subject to further discussion, including consultation with stakeholders.

Under the existing CSP Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme (DBWS), the current payment rate of €20 per eligible calf is subject to a maximum of 50 calves per herd for each of the four scheme years (2024 to 2027). Payments for scheme year one (2024) will be made in March 2025 and annually thereafter until 2028.

In order to increase DBWS per head payment rates in the increments suggested by the Deputy, the total scheme budget allocation would have to increase to the amounts set out in the table below.

It is important to note that the number of applications and animals eligible for payment under any Department beef scheme will depend on a variety of factors such as general market conditions at the time of launch, the menu of actions required to draw down the maximum payment, variations in compliance rates for those actions and the extent to which the action options are suited to individual production systems in the target population.

Any increase in scheme funding is subject to State Aid considerations.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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477. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated annual cost of a scheme (details supplied). [41016/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The budget allocation for the Traditional Farm Buildings grant scheme is approximately €1.5 million. The maximum grant rate payable under the scheme for approved works is 75%, and the maximum grant amount is €30,000. This allows for approximately 50 projects per year to be funded.

The vacant property grant is €50,000 per project. Increasing the traditional farm building grant to €50,000 per project for 50 projects would cost an extra €1 million.

There is a top-up grant for derelict vacant properties which brings the maximum grant payable to €70,000. Increasing the traditional farm building grant to €70,000 per project for 50 projects would cost an extra €2 million.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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478. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated annual cost of a scheme (details supplied). [41017/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Health and Safety Authority (HSA), which is under the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has statutory responsibility for safety in the workplace including the safety of young people operating tractors on farms.

The FRS Co-Op delivers a course which is specifically designed to develop the safety skills of 14 to 16-year-olds in relation to tractor driving. The course covers both the theory and practice relating to tractor handling for on-farm use. The course is delivered nationwide throughout the year. Many of the sessions are delivered to students as part of their transition year activities.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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479. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated annual cost of a scheme (details supplied). [41031/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Funding for the fishing fleet is provided for through schemes administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) on behalf of my Department, and funded under the Seafood Development Programme (SDP). The SDP is co-funded by the Irish Government and the EU Commission under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027.

The EMFAF regulation sets out what EMFAF funding can, and cannot be used for. EMFAF funding cannot be used to support the acquisition of new vessels, including the purchase of new vessels to replace older ones. The only provision made in the EMFAF regulation which allows EMFAF funding to be used to support the purchase of a vessel, is in the case of eligible young fishers who may receive aid to assist with the purchase of their first fishing vessel, which must be a second-hand vessel.

Funding supports for capital investment on-board registered fishing vessels are available under both the Small Scale Coastal Fisheries Scheme, and the Sustainable Fisheries Scheme. Details of both these schemes are available on www.bim.ie

It is not possible to estimate the cost of a 'fleet renewal' scheme without further detail as to what it is envisaged would be supported under any such scheme.

As noted above it would not be possible to provide financial supports under the SDP for the purchase of new vessels. Were an exchequer funded scheme to be developed, it would be subject to the relevant EU State Aid regulations in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. These regulations do not allow for aid to be provided for the purchase of new fishing vessels, and are aligned with the EMFAF regulation in providing only for support for young fishers to purchase their first fishing vessel, which must be a second-hand vessel.