Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Annual Output Statement
2009
2009Annual Output Statement
Page
Table of Contents 2
Section 1: Introduction, high level goals and aggregate performance
indicators for 2009 3
Section 2: Total 2008 Budget & Outturn and 2009 Provision 5
Section 3: 2008 & 2009 Gross Expenditure by Programme 6
Section 4: 2008 Output Targets and Achievements and
2009 Output Targets for each Programme 7-22
Section 1- Summary
Introduction
The 2009 Annual Output Statement (AOS) summarises the main activities of the Department into five programmes which are closely aligned with the current Strategy Statement. It specifies the resources required for each of these programme; describes the outcomes achieved for the 2008 targets; and sets targets to be achieved in 2009.
The Annual Output Statement concentrates on aggregate key activities. Detailed performance indicators on the more extensive range of Departmental activities undertaken in support of the food, agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors are contained in other Departmental publications including the 2008-2010 Strategy Statement, the Customer Service Action Plan and Charter and the Modernisation Report to the Civil Service Performance Verification Group. The Department also provides a detailed report on its outputs and activities in its Annual Report.
The five goals of the 2008-2010 Strategy Statement with high-level impact indicators, are as follows:
Goal 1. Provide an appropriate policy framework to support the development of an internationally competitive, innovative and consumer-focused sector.
Impact Indicators
Ø Impact of EU and WTO negotiations on Irish agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
Ø Value/volume of agriculture, food and fish exports.
Ø Degree of implementation of major programmes and policy documents and impact of these and national initiatives on the sector.
Ø Value/volume of the prepared consumer foods sector
Goal 2. Ensure the highest possible standards of food safety, consumer protection, animal health and welfare, fish and plant health including appropriate bio-security measures.
Impact Indicators
Ø Status of Irish food safety, animal health & welfare, fish, plant health and feed safety as indicated by verification reports of external agencies e.g. FVO.
Ø Animal and aquaculture health status protected and enhanced as evidenced by changes in disease incidence
Ø Enhanced animal welfare standards.
Goal 3. Promote economic, social, environmental sustainability, and appropriate structural change, in the agriculture, forestry, fisheries, bio-energy and food production sectors.
Impact Indicators
Ø Participation rates in environmentally friendly and sustainable development schemes and the level of compliance with environmental requirements
Ø Outcome of the CAP Rural Development Programme on the overall sector as verified by EU response to DAFF’s annual progress reports
Ø Improved economic contribution of the seafood and fisheries sector to the overall economy
Ø Impact of bio-energy initiatives on the supply of renewable energy
Ø Number of farm, forest and marine enterprises and their income levels.
Goal 4. Operate all our schemes and programmes in an efficient, effective and customer focused manner, improve the quality of service delivery and simplify the regulatory burden on our clients
Impact Indicators
Ø Degree to which commitments in the Customer Service Charters /Action Plans are achieved.
Ø Improved satisfaction rates for clients as verified by annual surveys or other monitoring arrangements.
Ø Feedback from the Consumer Liaison Panel
Ø Progress achieved on regulatory and other simplification measures.
Goal 5. Continually enhance our capability by developing our people and systems, maintain the highest standards of corporate governance, and implement the decentralisation programme and public service modernisation.
Impact Indicators
Ø Verification by the Civil Service Performance Verification Group of satisfactory achievement of the actions in the Department’s Modernisation Action Plans,
Ø Maintenance of high standard of financial management and controls as verified by external monitoring agencies,
Ø Improved capability and governance through staff development, effective use of technology and implementation of the agreed outcomes of internal/external reviews,
Ø Contribution to the cross-sectoral governance agenda, e.g. Decentralisation, MIF, Action Plan on the Knowledge Society, National Disability Strategy, National Women’s Strategy, Equality etc as reported in the Annual Report.
Section 2 : 2008 Budget & Outturn, 2009 Budget
The Department’s spending is financed through Vote 31, which is funded by the Exchequer and Appropriations in Aid (mainly from the EU), and by direct EU transfers which do not go through the Vote.
The table below provides information on the funding provided in 2008, that year’s outturn and the 2009 estimate. The 2008 estimate and outturn include capital carry over monies (€31.413m.) from the previous year. There were no capital funds carried over to 2009.
DAFF’s estimated gross total expenditure for 2009, including non-voted EU funds, is €3.34 billion.
2008€million / 2008 Outturn
€ million / 2009 Estimate
€ million / % Change on Outturn
Net Voted Expenditure / 1,731.4 / 1,693.3 / 1,599 / -5%
Appropriations-in- Aid / 413.3 / 408.4 / 385.9 / -10%
Gross Voted Expenditure / 2,144.7 / 2,101.7 / 1,984.9 / -6%
Non-Voted Funds
(EU Transfers) / 1,447.4 / 1,458.7 / 1,355.1 / -7%
Total Gross Expenditure / 3,592.1 / 3,560.4 / 3,340.1 / -6%
Of which- Exchequer Pay / 367.3 / 355.9 / 360.9 / 1%
No. of Public Service Employees / 4,214 FTE’s
Section 3: Total Gross Expenditure by Programme
Estimate
€million / 2008 Outturn
€million / 2009 Estimate
€million
Programme 1.
Agri-food and fisheries policy, trade & development / 382.1 / 358.6 / 340.6
Programme 2.
Food safety, consumer protection, animal health & welfare, fish and plant health / 371.6 / 363.0 / 349.3
Programme 3.
Sustainable development of rural and coastal economies and the natural environment / 1,019.2 / 1,033.7 / 847.5
Programme 4
Payments and customer service / 1.819.1 / 1,805.1 / 1,802.7Programme 5
Operational capabilities and public service modernisation
/ While the data is summarised in Programme 5, all of the resources associated with Programme 5are redistributed on a pro rata basis across the other Programmes under the Heading “Support Expenditure”.Total Expenditure (Voted and Non-Voted) / 3,592.1 / 3,560.4 / 3,340.1
Section 4: Detailed Inputs, Outputs and Targets for each Programme
Programme 1
Provide an appropriate policy framework to support the development of an internationally competitive, innovative and consumer-focused agri-food and fishing sector.
The key strategies underpinning this programme include:
q Effective participation at policy negotiations and developments at national, EU and international levels.
q Development, implementation and review, as appropriate, of national strategic policy documents and policy positions.
q Support to State Bodies for their development, promotion, research, advice and training activities.
q Effective economic policy analysis and planning to underpin competitiveness, efficiency and development of the agri-food and fishing sector and the rural and coastal economy.
Programme 1
/ 2008 Budget€ million / 2008
Outturn
€ million / 2009
Budget
€ million
Programme Expenditure
- Current
- Capital / 352.9
263.3
90.6 / 329.6
252.7
76.9 / 311.6
240.6
71.0
Programme Administration
- Pay
- Non-Pay / 24.6
20.1
4.5 / 24.3
19.4
4.9 / 24.0
19.7
4.3
Support Expenditure / 4.6 / 4.7 / 5.0
Total Gross Programme Expenditure / 382.1 / 358.6 / 340.6
Number of staff (FTE) as at 31 December 2008 / 306
Outputs
2008 Output Target / 2008 Output achieved1.1. Negotiate the optimum policy framework at EU and international level for the development and sustainable management of the Irish agri-food and fisheries sector / Major beneficial outcomes for the agri-food and fishing sector achieved at EU level in 2008 included
CAP Health Check: Concessions gained on increased milk quotas (worth €100 million by 2013), milk market supports and over €90m of new EU funds to be used at national discretion over four years.
Pig Industry: EU funded Aid to Private Storage Scheme for six months to support Irish pigmeat markets (worth €15m approx) and EU co-funding of up to €20.7m for product recall following dioxin contamination.
Fisheries Council:
Ø A 5% increase in the overall value of quota available in addition to the successful defence of the Hague Preferences were key elements for Ireland
Ø IUU fishing – New Community system adopted to prevent, discourage and eradicate illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This will come into force on the 1st January 2010.
Ø New Cod Recovery plan adopted which will require new national arrangement for managing fisheries in the Irish Sea and the north west for 2009
Simplification: Single Payment Scheme payments simplified by changes to modulation refunds, tillage set-aside, cross-compliance threshold and National Reserve entitlements and usage rules.
The Department continued to participate fully in all discussions, preparations and decision making at EU level (the Commission represents the EU position in WTO negotiations) with a view to ensuring that any WTO agreement does not necessitate further reform of the CAP and that national objectives were achieved.
1.2. Implement sectoral policy documents so that by end 2008
o all 167 action points in the AgriVision 2015 Action Plan are implemented
o at least 80% of DAFF provisions in the Programme for Government and in the Towards 2016 Agreement are implemented
o 50% of target for scrapping of fishing vessels achieved
o Implementation of 50% of Steering a New Course progressed. / · 98% of the 167 AgriVision 2015 commitments were implemented by end 2008. There are 4 outstanding items, one of which, the review of organisational structures, will be achieved in 2009. While significant progress was made on the remaining 3 [National/EU policies for co-existence arrangements for conventional and GM crops; all–island free movement on animals and plants; and country of origin labelling for pigmeat/poultry products] it is unlikely that these international /EU issues will be agreed in the near future.
· By end 2008, 67% of DAFF provisions in the PfG and 83% of Towards 2016 were being implemented on an ongoing basis.
· 35% of planned restructuring of fleet achieved
· 15% of Steering a New Course achieved
1.3 Improve afforestation planting levels through the implementation of the recommendations in the Malone Forestry Report and other strategic initiatives / Annual planting levels have decreased slightly from 6,947 in 2007 to 6,249 in 2008. However, overall forest cover has increased from 480,000ha in 1990 to around 730,000ha in 2008.
2009 Output Target / 2009 Output achieved
1.1. Further develop national positions on post 2013 CAP and actively engage in this key EU debate on the future of the CAP. In co-operation with other relevant Departments, advance and defend Irish interests in negotiations on the EU budget review and WTO negotiations.
1.2. Continue to implement current policy documents within
reduced budgetary provisions to maintain progress at current levels.
1.3 Develop a new national strategy for the agri-food, forestry and fisheries sectors to 2020, to succeed Agri-Vision 2015.
1.4. Increase volume of agri-foods exports from 2008 value of
€ 8 billion
Programme 2
Ensure the highest possible standards of food safety, consumer protection, animal health and welfare, fish and plant health including appropriate bio-security measures.
The key strategies underpinning this programme include:
q Implementing the most effective food and feed safety monitoring, inspection and control programmes at primary, producer and processing levels across all the Department’s areas of operation.
q Promoting and enforcing enhanced animal /product identification to support food safety and animal health and welfare
q Intensify the various animal and fish disease control/eradication programmes in order to make significant progress towards eradication
q Promoting animal welfare standards and secure compliance with these regulations.
q Operating an effective plant health service to minimise threats from harmful plant and forestry pests and diseases.
q Providing an efficient laboratory services for animal, plant and food products
Programme 2
/ 2008 Budget€ million / 2008
Outturn
€ million / 2009
Budget
€ million
Programme Expenditure
- Current
- Capital / 191.0
182.6
8.4 / 186.4
182.1
4.3 / 173.5
167.8
5.7
Programme Administration
- Pay
- Non-Pay / 151.6
118.5
33.1 / 146.5
113.7
32.8 / 144.3
114.8
29.5
Support Expenditure / 29.0 / 30.2 / 31.5
Total Gross Programme Expenditure / 371.6 / 363.1 / 349.3
Number of staff (FTE) as at 31 December 2008 / 1,945
2008 Output Target / 2008 Output Achieved
2.1. Maintain high standards of food safety and consumer protection by implementing food and feed Multi-Annual Control Plans. Attainment of high standards to be measured by the Department’s compliance with Food Safety Authority of Ireland contract and verified by internal and external audits. / The inspection and surveillance aspects of the FSAI contract were discharged. The food and feed safety and hygiene control system and the Multi-Annual National Control Plan were implemented.
In 2008, the national Residue Plan (involving analysis of over 30,000 samples from a wide range of food/feed products) detected dioxin contamination from animal feed. This led to the full recall of potentially contaminated product. The quick and effective action taken to deal with this major food scare meant that safe Irish pork was back on the market after one week and authoritative independent bodies such as the FSAI and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) viewed the actions taken as correct and an effective guarantee to food safety. A review of food/feed safety processes and systems will follow.
No adverse reports have been received from the FSAI on DAFF’s implementation of its contractual obligations while the FVO carried out a number of missions in 2008 as part of its overall country profile mission and will present its findings in Spring 2009.
2.2. Maintain Ireland’s high animal and plant health status as verified by levels of disease incidence, continuing access to export markets and reports from external verification bodies. / Ireland’s high animal and plant health status was maintained in 2008 despite threats from exotic disease outbreaks and dioxin contamination.
A range of disease eradication/surveillance programmes were delivered, including over 9million tests for TB, 5million tests for Brucellosis and 789,393 tests for BSE (23 positive cases in 2008).
Under the national testing programme, minimal levels of pig herds were found positive for Aujeszky disease.
The incidence of TB fell slightly, although the number of reactors increased partly due to a greater use of blood testing for detection but the incidence is still lower than in GB/NI.