Written Answers Nos. 218-226
218. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a North South Co-operation unit in his Department; the number of staff working in the North South Co-operation unit; the number of staff who have worked in the North South Co-operation unit in each year since 2007. [46610/12]
View answerWork relating to North-South co-operation is managed centrally by the Corporate Affairs Division of my Department. Officials in other Divisions manage the agreed areas of co-operation under the Good Friday Agreement. As the areas of co-operation under the Agreement are managed as part and parcel of the general responsibilities of the Divisions concerned, it is not possible to apportion staff numbers to the North/South functions.
219. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an area aid payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo and if he will expedite the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46654/12]
View answerAs processing of the application concerned has recently been completed, payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account of the person named.
220. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [46689/12]
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.
221. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine cén uair a íocfar deontas faoin scéim um limistéir faoi mhíbhuntáiste, 2012 le feirmeoir sonraí leis seo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46699/12]
View answerWhile an application under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 14 May 2012, payment has not yet issued as, at this stage, the holding of the person named has not yet satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements, which have been notified to all Scheme applicants. Immediately the holding concerned is confirmed as having met these requirements, the case will be further processed with a view to payment at the earliest possible date thereafter.
222. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a disadvantaged area payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46747/12]
View answerPayment under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued on 12 October to the nominated bank account of the person named.
223. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount paid to farmers in County Cavan under the disadvantaged areas scheme in 2011; the total amount paid to date under the 2012 scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46813/12]
View answer224. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount paid to farmers in County Monaghan under the disadvantaged areas scheme in 2011; the total amount paid to date under the 2012 scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46814/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together.
Payments under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced, on schedule, on 26 September and, to date, payments worth €179.4 million have issued nationally, to some 81,183 applicants. The details in respect of payments to farmers in counties Cavan and Monaghan are as set out in the Tables, below, which show the numbers paid to date and the value of those payments, together with details of the position at the corresponding stage in 2011. Also included is the final outturn for 2011.
County Cavan
|
Date |
Numbers paid |
Value of payments |
|
24 October 2012 |
3,895 |
€8,549,212 |
|
24 October 2011 |
3,844 |
€8,145,162 |
|
Total for 2011 |
4,819 |
€10,288,307 |
County Monaghan
|
Date |
Numbers paid |
Value of payments |
|
24 October 2012 |
3,332 |
€6,746,406 |
|
24 October 2011 |
3,394 |
€6,638,818 |
|
Total for 2011 |
4,057 |
€7,995,957 |
Payments continue to issue, on a twice-weekly basis, as individual cases are confirmed eligible.
225. 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. [46820/12]
View answerWhile an application under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 14 May 2012, payment has not yet issued as, at this stage, the holding of the person named has not yet satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements, which have been notified to all Scheme applicants. Immediately the holding concerned is confirmed as having met these requirements, the case will be further processed with a view to payment at the earliest possible date thereafter.
226. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment of the agri environment option scheme 2 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46839/12]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st 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. The person named was selected for a ground inspection which took place on 11th May 2012. During this inspection, areas of non-compliance with the terms and condition of the scheme were noted in relation to Natura and Non Natura Commonages which resulted in a penalty being imposed. A letter issued to the person named on 3rd September 2012 informing him of this penalty and giving him the option to appeal the decision. To date, no appeal has been received in the Department. The person named may also appeal the decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office within 3 months. In the meantime, the Department will process the application of the person named.
