Frequently Raised Topics About Public Health Measures

The latest Government restrictions in place in Ireland are available here. The latest restrictions apply nationwide and include additional restrictions on the numbers of people gathering and the advice is that those who can work from home must do so. Travel is restricted to within 5kms of your own home except for essential reasons. Overseas travel is not recommended except for essential reasons.

For more details, please visit Item was unpublished or removed, hse.ie or the Covid-19 Hub. These sites have a great deal of information which may answer your questions. The agriculture website also contains many Information Line numbers for our various schemes and services.

The Government has announced significant public health measures to prevent the spreading of Covid-19. In certain limited circumstances, there are exceptions allowed for some workers in key businesses but for the majority of people, the rule is simple: Stay at home.

There is guidance for employers and employees and the self employed, including farmers, to decide whether you are providing an essential service. It is not necessary to seek official authorisation - it is up to you to objectively and fairly make the assessment in each case, taking into account the spirit of these measures which is to keep you, your family and community safe.

This document is provided as assistance based on common questions the Department has received. However, the Department is not the arbiter in these matters, you must make your own decisions based on the facts of your own case and bearing in mind that many tasks can be postponed for the duration of the ‘Stay at home’ phase.

Directions from a member An Garda Síochána must be followed in all circumstances.

Is the Department open for business?

The Department remains open for business though the public offices are closed to public visitors for the present. The Department can be reached at the normal contact numbers, or by e mail. There is a specific COVID-19 Information Line at: 076 1064468

Our phone lines are open from 9:30am to 12:30pm and from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. A range of online facilities are also available

Email and phone contact details for the various Divisions dealing with schemes are available here

The key message is for everyone to stay at home, except for specified reasons.

However, there are exceptions for providers of essential services.

here#####Will the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine be issuing letters/certificates to show that someone is an essential worker?

No. There is no need to seek official authorisation

• The following services relating to agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fishing, animal welfare and related services are deemed essential:

• (a) farming;

• (b) farm labour;

• (c) farm relief services;

• (d) crop and animal production;

• (e) fishing for commercial purposes;

• (f) aquaculture and fish farming;

• (g) horticulture;

• (h) forestry;

• (i) veterinary, animal welfare and related services;

• (j) marts - sales rings are closed, bidding held online only;

• (k) the provision of support services relating to any of the services specified in subparagraphs (a) to (j) (including artificial insemination and animal disposal).

It is a matter for each company/individual to assess whether they are involved in providing essential services and then whether any individual is essential in providing that particular service. There is no need to seek official authorisation from the Department in this regard.

In all cases, plans should be in place for all essential workers to carry out their work while observing 2 metre physical distancing.

from the Department. Farmers, and other self-employed workers, should carry one form of identification in case they are stopped by An Garda Síochána. Employees engaged in essential work should carry either a work identification card or a letter from their employer indicating that they are an essential employee and one other form of identification.

Following the Government decision on 26 January, the Level 5 restrictions, introduced on 31 December 2020, will now stay in place until at least 5 March 2021. This means that construction, apart from certain exceptions listed here must remain closed. Essential repairs may be permissible where this is necessary for animal welfare reasons. Where alternative arrangements to manage animal welfare are available, the works should not proceed.

Yes. The current advice is that you can move animals as part of the business of farming, which is an essential service. There is no restriction on the distance, however one should reflect on whether such movement is actually essential at a particular point in time.

DAFM have received multiple requests for clarity and guidance concerning the provision of services by individuals and businesses providing dog training and dog grooming services.

Business owners raise concerns that because their services are curtailed under current COVID-19 measures dogs’ welfare is being compromised.

Dog training

The businesses’ argument: thousands of people have acquired new pets over the last 12 months, and many are inexperienced or first-time dog owners. It is indisputable that a well socialised, properly trained puppy will be less likely to present with behavioural problems, will be have better temperaments, and will be safer companions especially for children. Properly trained animals are also less likely to be surrendered to welfare charities or pounds because of behavioural challenges or aggression.

Dog grooming

The businesses’ argument: many of the dogs seen regularly by groomers are ‘designer’ breeds with dense coats that may not be easily groomed by the owner. When left ungroomed for prolonged periods, these animals’ coats can become matted or ‘pelted’ causing discomfort to the animal, and in severe cases, the pets may end up with painful skin damage, urine scald, ingrown nails, etc.

While there is an association of professional dog groomers (IPDGA), the sector is not regulated, and some practitioners complain that they are being disadvantaged by large pet stores and ‘backyard’ groomers, who continue to offer grooming services.

While it is regrettable that dog groomer and trainers are suffering significant business disruption, the vast majority of ungroomed dogs do not suffer ill health or compromised welfare, and owners can be given advice on home care to mitigate minor concerns. Similarly, while training is undoubtedly important, there are excellent online and printed resources to which new owners can be directed, and some businesses are providing one-to-one behavioural consultations online.

Some service providers have complained that pet superstores, which remain open for the purpose of providing essential services (petfood and supplies), are also offering grooming services, with no requirement for referral and busy, online booking systems.

Recommendations

DAFM has considered the welfare concerns raised, and agrees that in individual circumstances, intervention may be necessary for in order to prevent or alleviate animal welfare issues. Therefore, at present, DAFM’s advice is that where a veterinary surgeon deems it necessary on animal welfare grounds, a pet may be referred to a groomer or animal behaviour expert for remedial services by businesses/individuals in full observance of COVID-19 precautions.

On balance, DAFM recommends that while Level 5 restrictions remain necessary, grooming and behavioural consultations should remain limited as outlined. As restrictions are eased, in many cases, these businesses are likely to be able to comply with high standards of COVID-19 guidelines.

To ensure consistency and a level playing field, it may be worth considering taking steps to ensure that the same rules apply to all service providers.

Those aged over 70 and the medically vulnerable are advised to continue to exercise personal judgement. It is recommended that everybody stay at home as much as possible, limit engagement to a very small network for short periods of time, while remaining physically distanced.

When taking exercise outdoors, it is important to maintain 2 metres distance from others and wash hands on returning home. It is recommended to shop during designated hours only, while wearing a face covering, and to avoid public transport.

If there are essential tasks on the farm which require more than one person, older farmers should not hesitate to ask for help from family and neighbours but should ensure that social distancing is possible, that is stay at least 2 metres apart.

To support those who risk isolation, a 'social bubble' will apply for the duration of Level 5. In certain situations, you can form a bubble with 1 other household (of any size). You can then act as one extended household. You must still keep physical distance from people outside your support bubble. You can access more information on support bubbles.

If an older farmer needs additional help or has any concerns, they should ring the local community support Information Line (there is one in each local authority area) or the local Garda station. Anyone who visits the farm, including farm workers, contractors and farm relief services, should ensure that they maintain 2 metre physical distancing.

The Department has agreed protocols to allow marts to continue to operate, albeit on a limited and controlled basis, so that livestock sales could continue during the period of restrictions.

Each mart operates under a “Covid 19 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)” which must be signed off by the Department. Adherence to the SOP is a condition of the Mart’s licence and is mandatory.

Sales rings are to remain closed – marts may facilitate online sales.

• Marts must put a drop and go policy in place for sellers. This means that farmers or their representatives may deliver livestock to the mart by appointment and must then depart from the mart premises. Where feasible, farmers or their representatives should remain in their vehicle while on the mart premises, and mart staff should unload and load livestock and take passports.
• Marts must arrange that individual appointment times are allocated to individual buyers to view or collect livestock. Buyers should attend the mart on their own, without accompaniment.

These measures are subject to ongoing review and may be amended as required to ensure compliance with government policy on COVID19.

These measures are largely similar to those put in place in April and May.

Marts wishing to operate must submit a revised standard operating procedure (“Level 5 SOP – October”) to their Regional Veterinary Office for approval as soon as possible.

DAFM has informed marts representative organisations of these new measures, and will write to all marts today informing them of the new measures.

Marts not implementing this policy risk losing their licence to operate.

In addition to its normal oversight role in relation to food safety, animal health and animal welfare, this Department is an essential component of the National Standing Oversight Committee on COVID-19 for food processing plants and this work will continue and expand as necessary. Department inspection staff have been carrying out inspections at these facilities on behalf of the HSA.

An essential part of the latest measures is greater inspection and enforcement arrangements to ensure that premises are operating safely and within Regulations and guidelines.

Yes. Currently there is no restriction on the movement of animals within the country for farming purposes, including for breeding. HSE public health guidelines must be observed at all times.

Yes, this is an essential service associated with farming.

No. Farmers must continue to tissue tag calves as soon as possible after birth and submit the sample to the designated BVD laboratories for testing as normal. Farm bodies have offered assistance where farmers are unable to submit samples, for example, due to self- isolation or cocooning. Currently turnaround times for tissue tag testing are largely unaffected, but this may be subject to change.

DAFM has introduced a range of measures for handling scheme applications and payment processing to take account of the latest public health guidelines ( with a strong focus on telephone, text messaging and online interaction with customers). These measures are being kept under review.

The Department continues routine on-farm visits in order to minimise any delays in payments and to meet scheme requirements. Our priority remains unchanged. The health & safety of our customers, our staff and their families is paramount. Our Inspecting Officers are required to follow best practice and the latest HSE guidelines on Hygiene throughout the inspection process.

The Minister also announced some flexibilities for existing TAMs approvals in response to COVID-19 issues. These flexibilities are being introduced to make it easier for farmers and their agents to continue to participate in this important scheme where difficulties arise from the current public health restrictions in place.

• all TAMS projects due for completion (or approvals due to expire) between 1 January and 1 April 2021 may be extended by 3 months;

• the date for the submission of TAMS payment claims due to be submitted before 1 April 2021 may also be extended by 3 months.

Approved participants who wish to avail of these extensions may contact the local office from which their approval issued who will provide approval for the required extension.

Further details on the TAMS II measures are available here