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Thursday, 18 Oct 2012

Written Answers Nos. 200-11

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications

Questions (200)

Dara Calleary

Question:

200. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo may expect to receive notification in relation to their 2012 disadvantaged area scheme application. [45404/12]

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Written answers

While the person named applied for derogation under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas scheme, the application was unsuccessful. The applicant was notified of this decision in writing on 16 October and advised of the right of appeal to the recently established independent DAS Appeals Committee.

Scéim na hAoníocaíochta

Questions (201)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

201. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a íocfar an deontas faoin Scéim Aoníocaíochta, 2012 le feirmeoir (sonraí leis seo); agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [45454/12]

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Written answers

Fuarthas iarratas faoin Scéim um Limistéir faoi Mhíbhuntáiste 2012 ón duine ainmnithe an 23 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 heictéair 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.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications

Questions (202)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

202. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be paid their 2012 disadvantaged area based payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45457/12]

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Written answers

The person named 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.

However, it was necessary to request further information from the applicant. As soon as this is received, the derogation application will be further processed, following which the applicant will be advised of the outcome in writing. Should the decision be negative, a fully independent appeals procedure is available.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications

Questions (203)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

203. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be paid their 2012 disadvantaged area based payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45458/12]

View answer

Written answers

The 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.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Questions (204)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

204. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received their payment in relation to the disadvantaged area scheme; when it is likely that they will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45481/12]

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Written answers

As processing of the application concerned has recently been completed, payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Questions (205)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

205. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received their payment in relation to the disadvantaged area scheme; when it is likely that they will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45482/12]

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Written answers

As processing of the application concerned has recently been completed, payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Forestry Sector

Questions (206)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

206. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding will be granted for the special construction of a bridge on a forestry road in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45493/12]

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Written answers

The application by the person named has yet to be fully submitted to the Department by his registered forester. Once the application and all of the supporting documentation has been received, it will be examined in detail and he will be notified of the decision.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications

Questions (207)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

207. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in making an agri environment options scheme 2 payment to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; when this payment will issue. [45505/12]

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Written answers

The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1 September 2011.

Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks an over-claim was identified in relation to claimed areas on the Natura action. Also the person named requested the withdrawal of an action from their application which will result in a further penalty of 10% on their 2011 payment. The application will now be processed on this basis with a view to issuing payment at the earliest opportunity.

Aquaculture Licences

Questions (208)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

208. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of licence applications pending in Kenmare River Bay in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45512/12]

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Written answers

At present there are 47 aquaculture licence applications awaiting determination in or adjacent to the Kenmare River Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Kenmare Bay is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive ('Natura 2000' site). As a designated 'Natura 2000' site all applications for aquaculture licences in Kenmare Bay are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Habitats Directives. My Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, is engaged in a comprehensive programme to gather the necessary baseline data appropriate to the conservation objectives of ‘Natura 2000’ areas. This data collection programme is substantially complete. Analysis of the data, together with the setting of appropriate conservation objectives by the NPWS, will enable all new, renewal and review applications to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. This work represents a significant financial, administrative and scientific investment by the State in resolving this issue. The Appropriate Assessment of aquaculture applications is being dealt with on a bay-by-bay basis.

The completion of the process of identifying Conservation Objectives and conducting Appropriate Assessments varies depending on location and key operational factors including weather conditions, the quality of data received from field operations and the need to carry out additional survey work in certain specific instances.

Kenmare Bay remains part of the package of prioritised areas under assessment. This package is reviewed on a regular basis with a view to expediting the appropriate assessment process.

Addressing the issue of aquaculture licensing in ‘Natura 2000’ areas is a key priority for my Department and you can be assured that every effort is being made to expedite the process having regard to all the complexities involved.

Aquaculture Licences

Questions (209)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

209. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of licences that were granted or renewed in Natura 2000 areas since the Natura 2000 area were introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45513/12]

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Written answers

No new aquaculture licences for sites in 'Natura areas' have been issued since the European Court of Justice issued a negative judgement against Ireland in 2007 for breaches of EU Birds and Habitats Directives.

To ensure compliance with the Birds and Habitats Directives, all applications in 'Natura 2000 areas' are required to be appropriately assessed. This has required the putting in place of a significant work programme which has considerable time and resource implications. An additional factor is that all aquaculture applications now undergo an Environmental Impact pre-screening assessment which requires significant input from the Department’s scientific and technical advisors, or are required to provide a full Environmental Impact Statement.

My Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, is engaged in a comprehensive programme to gather the necessary baseline data appropriate to the conservation objectives of 'Natura 2000' areas. This data collection programme is substantially complete. Analysis of the data, together with the setting of appropriate conservation objectives by the NPWS, will enable all new, renewal and review applications to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. This work represents a significant financial, administrative and scientific investment by the State in resolving this issue. The Appropriate Assessment of aquaculture applications is being dealt with on a bay-by-bay basis.

Forestry Sector

Questions (210)

Seamus Kirk

Question:

210. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that will be taken regarding the threat of chalara found in imported ash trees; the measures he is taking to deal with the issue, having regard to the serious economic impact of such threat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45542/12]

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Written answers

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has confirmed a finding of Chalara fraxinea at a site in County Leitrim and as a result is carrying out a number of measures to both contain the disease and minimise its impacts. Department officials have actively worked with the owner at the Leitrim site, and have destroyed the material to prevent the risk of the disease spreading. The Department is investigating a number of other sites planted with ash trees from the same imported consignment.

In addition, measures under EU plant health regulations are also being put in place to deal with this serious forestry disease. In this regard, the Department is introducing legislative measures under the Plant Health Directive. The new measures being introduced by the Department under Statutory Instrument will require that any ash plants imported into the country would come from an area known to be free of the disease. This would be regulated under the EU Plant Passport system.

My colleague, Shane McEntee TD, Minister of State at the Department with responsibility for forestry, has met with representatives from the forestry sector and related industries on a number of occasions within the last week. These groups have given commitments and cooperation, including an effective moratorium on ash plant imports, to support my Department’s efforts in dealing with this threat.

Youth Services

Questions (211)

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

211. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason behind a decision to withdraw funding from a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45470/12]

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Written answers

The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2 and Local Drugs Task Force Projects.

Funding of €56.806m has been provided to my Department to support the provision of youth services in 2012. Some 477 projects and youth services throughout the country receive support under the schemes. The annual funding allocations for youth projects are determined by my Department and the funding is administered, on behalf of my Department, by a number of grant administering agencies including the City of Dublin Youth Services Board (CDYSB) of the CDVEC.

The City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB) has, for many years, been promoting, supporting and co-ordinating the development of youth services and voluntary youth clubs in Dublin City.

I understand that the youth club referred to by the Deputy is a Foróige youth café/club operating in the Walkinstown area of Dublin.

The CDYSB Liaison Officer for the Dublin 12 Walkinstown/Crumlin areas has regular contact with youth clubs and groups in these areas and in particular the youth café in question. In 2012 support and assistance has been provided in a number of ways by CDYSB including IT support; training grants for young people to avail of leadership training; annual and programme activities grants; direct support to the lead volunteer in the youth café.

Financial support of €7,745.50 has been provided by CDYSB, from funding provided by my Department, to the Walkinstown youth group up to October 2012 and further funding will be made available to this club before the end of the year. I understand that in December 2011, a development grant of €4,100 was also provided by CDYSB, on behalf of my Department, under the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF 2) Small Grant Fund towards the cost of the portacabin in question.

I am aware that the club has submitted an application for funding under the National Lottery Grant Scheme, 2012. Applications for funding under this Scheme are currently being examined by my Department and decisions in relation to the applications will be made as soon as possible.

I also understand that CDYSB has contacted the Foróige regional officer responsible for the area to arrange a meeting with CDYSB, volunteers from the youth café and local Councillors to discuss CDYSB’s position with regard to grant aid and also to clarify issues raised by the youth café.

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