Written Answers Nos. 512-534
512. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a íocfar deontas an scéim um limistéir faoi mhíbhuntáiste, 2012 le feirmeoir (sonraí leis seo); agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [44223/12]
View answerÓ tharla iarratas an duine ainmnithe a bheith próiseáilte le déanaí, eiseofar íocaíocht go luath díreach chuig cuntas bainc ainmnithe an té sin.
513. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a íocfar deontas an scéim um limistéir faoi mhíbhuntáiste, 2012 le feirmeoir (sonraí leis seo); agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [44224/12]
View answerÓ tharla iarratas an duine ainmnithe a bheith próiseáilte le déanaí, eiseofar íocaíocht go luath chuig cuntas bainc ainmnithe an té sin.
514. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way his Department categorise a horticulture enterprise and in particular if horticulture is categorised as farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44248/12]
View answerHorticulture is regarded as a branch of agriculture.
Consequently, horticultural production comes within the responsibility of my Department and a practitioner of horticulture would be regarded by my Department as either a farmer or grower.
515. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment will issue in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44250/12]
View answerAn application under the 2012 Single Payment scheme was received from the person named on 9 May 2012. An over-claim was identified on one of the parcels declared and my Department was in direct contact with the applicant. This issue has now been resolved and payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account of the person named.
516. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of single farm payment and disadvantaged area aid will issue to persons (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44260/12]
View answerPayment under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued 15 October to the nominated bank account of the person named, while the advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme will be made today.
517. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 194 of 4 October 2012, the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44261/12]
View answerThe reason why the entitlements were not stacked is set out in reply to Parliamentary Question number 194 on the 4th October, 2012. Since this is a rather complicated case an official from my Department will contact the Deputy directly to explain the current position in relation to the entitlements. A full written explanation will also be provided to the Deputy.
518. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén fáth go bhfuil moill le híocaíocht deontais faoin scéim um limistéir faoi mhíbhuntáiste le feirmeoir (sonraí leis seo); agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [44266/12]
View answerFuarthas iarratas faoin Scéim um Limistéir faoi Mhíbhuntáiste 2012 ón duine ainmnithe an 13 Aibreán 2012. Níor eisíodh íocaíocht go fóill, áfach, mar nárbh fhéidir go dtí seo a fhíorú gur comhlíonadh ceann de Théarmaí agus Coinníollacha Scéim 2012, a bhaineann le meánmhéid bliantúil de 0.15 aonad beostoic a choimeád in aghaidh an acra foráiste dearbhaithe. Chomh luath agus is féidir an coinníoll sin a fhíorú, déanfar an cás a phróiseáil le súil agus íocaíocht a dhéanamh chomh luath ina dhiaidh sin agus is féidir.
519. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue in relation to a disadvantaged area scheme application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44317/12]
View answerThe person concerned is an applicant under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. Currently, this applicant is one of a number, whose cases are impacted by a requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare and who have applied for a derogation in this regard. Immediately a decision is reached on this application, the person concerned will be notified in writing. Should the decision be negative, a fully independent appeals procedure is available.
520. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff in his Department or agencies under his control that are currently on career break; the number of staff currently hired temporarily to cover those on career break; if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers by grade and agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44360/12]
View answer558. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff that availed of the special civil service incentive career break scheme 2009; the cost of the scheme since its introduction; the savings on the pay bill in that time period; the estimated full year cost for the return of all the new civil servants in 2013; the number of staff members that applied for a further extension of their leave; if these staff were counted as a reduction in numbers employed in the public service during that time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45603/12]
View answer559. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff across the public service that are currently on a career break; if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers on career leave by Department and agency; the estimated cost of this scheme per year; the number of staff currently hired temporarily to cover those on career break; the reforms that have taken place in this general area in the past year; if these staff were counted as a reduction in numbers employed in the public service during that time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45618/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 520, 558 and 559 together.
There are two career break schemes currently in operation in my Department:–
- Special Leave Without Pay for a Career Break as provided for in Circular 18/1998; and
- Special Civil Service Incentive Career Break Scheme 2009 as provided for in Circular 13/2009.
In all some 89 staff of my Department are currently on career break. The grades in question and the scheme they have availed of are set out in a table.
|
Grade |
Career Break 18/1998 |
Incentivised Career Break 13/2009 |
|
Clerical Officer |
25 |
21 |
|
Staff Officer |
1 |
1 |
|
Executive Officer |
5 |
8 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
2 |
2 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
2 |
|
|
Principal Officer |
1 |
|
|
Visually Impaired Telephonist |
1 |
|
|
Technical Agricultural Officers |
2 |
|
|
Assistant Agricultural Inspector |
3 |
1 |
|
Agricultural Inspector |
3 |
|
|
Engineer Grade 3 |
1 |
|
|
Laboratory Analyst |
2 |
1 |
|
Senior Laboratory Technician |
1 |
|
|
Serological Assistant |
3 |
|
|
Veterinary Inspector |
3 |
|
|
Total |
55 |
34 |
The total cost of the incentivised scheme to date is €1,489,210 and the pay savings achieved to date are €4,049,811. The estimated full year salary cost of a return to work of all 34 staff on the incentivised scheme would be just in excess of €1m.
In all, 53 staff availed of the incentivised career break scheme, 12 of whom have sought to extend their career break in accordance with the terms of the standard scheme. My Department has not hired any staff on a temporary basis to cover those on career break. Staff on career break are not included in my Department’s staffing numbers.
The operation of career break schemes in the agencies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the agencies themselves.
521. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44428/12]
View answerThe person concerned is an applicant under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. Currently, this applicant is one of a number, whose cases are impacted by a requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare and who have applied for a derogation in this regard. Immediately a decision is reached on this application, the person concerned will be notified in writing. Should the decision be negative, a fully independent appeals procedure is available.
522. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44431/12]
View answerThe person concerned is an applicant under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. Currently, this applicant is one of a number, whose cases are impacted by a requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare and who have applied for a derogation in this regard. Immediately a decision is reached on this application, the person concerned will be notified in writing. Should the decision be negative, a fully independent appeals procedure is available.
523. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44442/12]
View answerThe person concerned is an applicant under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. Currently, this applicant is one of a number, whose cases are impacted by a requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare and who have applied for a derogation in this regard. Immediately a decision is reached on this application, the person concerned will be notified in writing. Should the decision be negative, a fully independent appeals procedure is available.
524. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost in 2011 to his Department and to each body under the aegis of his Department of implementing the Official Languages Act 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44460/12]
View answerExpenditure by my Department in implementing the Official Languages Act and providing services through the Irish language in 2011 was €11,985.49. Bodies under the aegis of my Department report independently on these matters and queries should be addressed directly to the bodies concerned.
525. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the non payment of single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44477/12]
View answerThis issue relates to an application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme, where part-payment was initially made on those parcels confirmed eligible at the time. The remaining parcels were under review, due to issues concerning the forestry contract. As these issues have recently been resolved, the case has been further processed, with a view to the balancing payment issuing shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
526. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue in relation to a disadvantaged area scheme application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44492/12]
View answerPayment under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued on 15 October to the nominated bank account of the person named.
527. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the wording to ban fur farming was removed from the purpose of the Bill of the Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012 during drafting stage; the reason for the removal of the wording and when the wording was removed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44519/12]
View answerThe Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012 gives effect to commitments in the Programme for Government 2011-2016 to amend and strengthen legislation on animal cruelty and welfare. The reasons for drafting the new legislation is primarily to consolidate the existing legislation in the area of animal health and welfare and to modernise the legislation. Fur farming is a lawful and permitted farming activity practised in many European countries including Ireland and is governed by National and European law. The Review Group set up by me to review the whole issue of fur farming has submitted its report and has made a number of recommendations which I am now considering.
528. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork incurred penalties to the value of 12% of their single farm payment for the year 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44521/12]
View answerThe person named was the subject of a Nitrates inspection by my Department, acting on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, on 17 January 2012. This inspection uncovered breaches of the Nitrates Regulations in relation to the failure to minimize the creation of soiled water and the inadequate collection of livestock manure and soiled water. Additional problems, relating to the requirement to maintain lands in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition, were also recorded as the out-wintering of cattle had resulted in the poaching of land. As similar Nitrates discrepancies had been recorded at an inspection in March 2010, an overall penalty under repetition of 15% was recorded for 2012.
The person named was informed of this decision on 13 February 2012 and of his right to seek a review. He was also informed of his right to appeal the outcome of any review to the Independent Agriculture Appeals office. To date no such request has been received by my Department.
529. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the name of the private company or companies handling mapping issues for his Department; the number of families in County Galway that have been referred to it with mapping issues on disadvantaged area payments or agri environment option scheme payments; the average time before these queries are completed; when it is expected that these issues will be rectified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44529/12]
View answerMy Department has contracted, through open tendering procedures, Mallons Technology Ltd. and the ICON group (Remote Sensing inspection cases) to provide digitising updates of the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS). This digitising work must be carried out to meet my Department’s deadlines and to the standard required both by my Department and the European Union’s IACS. Under IACS, the payments made together with the operation of the Land Parcel Identification System in Ireland are subject to frequent and rigorous audits by the European Commission and the European Court of Auditors.
As part of the normal application process, farmers are required to submit maps outlining any ineligible features in their land parcels. I can confirm that in respect of the 2012 scheme-year, 3,156 of the 12,854 Galway herds required digitising and this process was completed in early September. Some applicants have queried the outcome of the digitising and these cases are processed as they arise. The findings of eligibility inspections where they differ from the declarations made by individual applicants continue to be re-digitised on the LPIS database.
530. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a íocfar deontas an scéim um limistéir faoi mhíbhuntáiste 2012 le feirmeoir (sonraí leis seo); agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [44607/12]
View answerFuarthas iarratas faoin Scéim um Limistéir faoi Mhíbhuntáiste/Scéim Aoníocaíochta 2012 ón duine ainmnithe an 9 Bealtaine 2012. Áirítear ar na tailte a dearbhaíodh dhá cheapach neamhdhigitithe nach raibh na léarscáileanna is gá tugtha ina leith. Scríobh mo Roinn chuig an duine ainmnithe ina leith seo. Chomh luath agus a fhaightear an t-ábhar sin, déanfar an t-iarratas a phróiseáil.
531. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reasons that persons (details supplied) in County Kerry have not received his REP scheme payments for the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44650/12]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the first four years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. This process is under way for 2012 REPS 4 applications and I expect that payments will commence shortly. In the event that any issues arise on the file of the person named, officials in my Department will be in direct contact with the person named.
532. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara an raibh an cimín sa Lipe, An Spidéal, Contae na Gaillimhe roinnte riamh nó ar réitíodh plean lené a roinnt; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [44653/12]
View answerTáim in ann a dheimhniú nár roinn Coimisiún Talún na hÉireann mar a bhí an coimín i Lipe agus nach bhfuil sé i gceist sin a dhéanamh.
533. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will respond to the following query regarding the Animal Welfare Bill (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44656/12]
View answerIt is my intention to maintain provisions in the Animal Health and Welfare Bill relating to the lawful hunting and coursing of animals and I do not intend to interfere with legitimate field sports which are carried out in a proper manner. Where animals are released in an injured or exhausted condition or where a hare does not have a reasonable chance of escape, the sanctions and penalties set down in the Bill will apply.
534. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44663/12]
View answerPayment under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued on 26 September to the nominated bank account of the person named.
