Written Answers Nos. 517 to 538
517. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the opportunities that persons in lower grades of the Public Service have been afforded in contributing to the reforms of the public service as sought in the Public Service Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50640/12]
View answerThe Department of Defence places a significant emphasis on staff consultation and staff input at all levels in the development and implementation of action programmes to progress reforms in the Civil Service. The preparation and subsequent revision of the Department’s action plan under the Croke Park agreement as well as its implementation presents an ongoing opportunity to tap into the knowledge and experience of staff, including staff at lower grades. The key actions undertaken by the Department to ensure that there are opportunities for persons at all levels to contribute to the reforms of the public service as sought in the Public Service Agreement include:
Partnership Committee and Departmental Council: Both the Croke Park agreement and Public Service Reform Plan are standing agenda items at these meetings, which are representative of all grades. The minutes of all meetings are made available to staff on the Department’s intranet.
The Department’s Partnership Committee has a specific role in providing a consultation forum with staff at all grades in the preparation, amendment and reporting on the Department’s Action Plan under the Croke Park agreement.
Branch and Divisional meetings: These meetings provide a vehicle for staff to bring forward proposals for consideration in the context of the reform agenda.
Business Planning Process: The annual business planning process provides a further opportunity for consultation with staff to ensure that business plans take account of both the Croke Park Action Plan and the Public Service Reform Plan.
Workforce Planning: All staff in the Department have completed a workforce planning survey which offers staff yet another opportunity to identify ways in which their knowledge, skills and experience can contribute to, or enhance our commitment to public sector reform.
Communication: The Secretary General and senior management of the Department have delivered presentations to all staff on the challenges and opportunities ahead in terms of public service reform and have provided a forum for all staff to contribute to the reform program through this process.
My Department will continue to ensure that there are tangible mechanisms in place to enable all grades to contribute to the reform agenda.
518. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Defence how well funded all semi-State company pension schemes are; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50652/12]
View answerThere are no semi-State companies under the aegis of the Department of Defence.
519. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to protect tax payers money now and in the future in view of the fact that the Garda Fraud squad are investigating a matter in relation to Horse Racing Ireland and the Turf Club; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50003/12]
View answerMy Department is not aware of the Garda Fraud Squad investigating any matter in relation to Horse Racing Ireland or the Turf Club. The CEOs of Horse Racing Ireland and the Turf Club have confirmed to officials from my Department that they, also, are unaware of any such investigation. In any event, I am sure the Deputy will understand that it would be totally inappropriate for me to make any comment on any matter that would be the subject of a Garda enquiry.
520. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the time notification that should be provided by his Department officials in relation to a full farm inspection (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49395/12]
View answerMy Department, in the context of delivering the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantages Areas’ Scheme and other area related schemes, is required to carry-out an annual round of inspections covering both the eligibility of land declared to draw down payments and also cross-compliance aspects to ensure compliance with EU regulatory requirements in the areas of public, animal and plant health, environment and animal welfare.
Provided the purpose of the control is not jeopardised, relevant EU regulations enable my Department to give up to 14 days notice for land eligibility inspections. This also applies for cross compliance inspections involving Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs), other than those related to animal identification and registration, feed, food and animal welfare. For checks involving animal identification and registration, the maximum advance notice permitted under EU regulations is 48 hours, provided the purpose of the inspection is not jeopardised. For SMRs dealing with feed, food and animal welfare, no advance notice is permitted under governing EU regulations.
As a general rule and following requests from the farming organisations, my Department tries to integrate inspections, including all of the cross compliance inspection elements, with a view to avoiding more than one visit to a farm. This, however, has implications for the degree of flexibility available to my Department to give advance notice. Nonetheless, in respect of those elements of an integrated inspection for which advance notice is possible, the farmer can request deferral of those particular elements to a separate inspection.
521. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify that grazable lands will become the definition regarding acreage applicable to the single farm payment and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49397/12]
View answerUnder the EU regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme, only eligible agricultural land can be claimed upon for aid under the scheme. Agricultural land is defined as any area taken up by arable land, permanent pasture or permanent crops and which is used for an agricultural activity. In addition an applicant must ensure that agricultural land is maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition.
Farmers can keep grassland in good agricultural and environmental condition by conducting an agricultural activity on it such as grazing, harvesting forage crops, or by topping. Grasslands continue to be eligible where it is evident that the stocking rate used by the applicant on the land is sufficient and, for example, can keep rushes under control and avoid their proliferation. In such situations, the reality is that there may not be a necessity to cut rushes.
Where a farmer cuts rushes as part of management practice, with the exception of certain designated lands, there are no restrictions on when this is done. In terms of the conduct of inspections, my Department makes appropriate allowances for the effect of prevailing weather conditions in individual cases.
522. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department officials are carrying out on-farm inspections and subsequently carrying out satellite inspection on the same farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49398/12]
View answerIn accordance with EU legislation governing the payment of area-based aid, in particular, Council Regulation 73/2009 and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1122/2009, it is necessary for Member States to carry out on-the-spot land eligibility inspections on at least 5% of all farmers submitting a single payment scheme application. In carrying out these land eligibility inspections, Member States may make use of satellite imagery. My Department makes use of such imagery to carry out a proportion of land eligibility inspections.
When the available images do not permit a satisfactory verification of the land use or area of a parcel(s) applied for by an applicant, perhaps due to cloud cover, it is an EU requirement that a ground inspection must take place. These inspections are generally limited to verifying the area of the particular parcel(s) where the position is unclear from the imagery available (unless 80% or more of the area was unclear). The results obtained are used, in combination with the clear satellite imagery, to finalise the eligibility inspection of the entire areas declared.
523. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the latest decision regarding an application for extra capacity on their milk quota in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49400/12]
View answerThe named person was an applicant under my Department’s Hardship Scheme.
Allocations of quota on the grounds of hardship are based on recommendations made by the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal, which operates in accordance with objective criteria outlined in the explanatory note that accompanied the application form, and the overall volume is determined by the projected volume of quota available from the National Reserve.
As a result of the assessment process, which took place in September 2012, the entire pool of quota assigned for distribution under this scheme has been utilised. Having regard to the high level of demand on the National Reserve, it will not be possible in the current milk quota year to allocate additional quota for distribution under this scheme.
I regret that I cannot be of more assistance on this occasion.
524. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49412/12]
View answerAn application under the 2012 Single Payment/ Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 8 May 2012.
As the applicant does not have any Single Payment entitlements, no payment is due under this scheme.
525. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is an alternative method by which a person can transfer single payment entitlements under the 2011 scheme year (details supplied) following correspondence from his Department on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49427/12]
View answerAn application was received on 14 May 2008 requesting the transfer of 8.73 Single Payment entitlements from a deceased person to the first person named under the 2008 scheme year. The deceased person died intestate and Letters of Administration were received naming three individuals as administrators of the estate.
The first person named has been written to on seven separate occasions requesting additional information, namely the signature of all administrators. An official from my Department has been in contact with the person named. Unfortunately, there is no alternative way of transferring the entitlements in question.
526. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to close an office (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49456/12]
View answerMy Department has no proposals at this time to close the office to which the Deputy refers.
527. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a matter on turbary rights will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49516/12]
View answerThis matter has been expedited and is awaiting the completion of legal documentation on behalf of the person named.
528. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of the disadvantaged area scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49517/12]
View answerAn application under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 11 May 2012.
As the applicant did not claim any forage area, his application is ineligible. The terms and conditions, which govern the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, require that an applicant declare at least three eligible hectares of forage area on his application.
529. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to fill posts from a DS panel (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49520/12]
View answerMy Department has received sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to fill a number of critical vacancies which include a number of District Superintendent posts. Arrangements are being made to establish a new panel from which these sanctioned vacancies will be filled.
530. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding farm entitlements in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49528/12]
View answerThe Single Payment entitlements were established for farmers who were farming and in receipt of direct payments under the Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid Schemes during the reference years 2000, 2001 and 2002 and who continued to farm in 2005. The person named did not receive payments under the Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid Schemes during the reference years and therefore no Single Payment entitlements were established.
Furthermore the person named held a herd number until 15 August 2000 after which ownership was transferred.
531. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budget for his Department; the amount of this budget that is used to run his Department; the number of staff employed by his Department; the total amount paid in wages to these staff; the amount of his Department budget that goes directly to farmers; the number of State boards under the control of his Department; the cost of administration and Director remuneration for these boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49531/12]
View answerFull details of the Department’s 2012 budgets are set in the “2012 Revised Estimates for Public Services” and on the Department’s website. The total budget available to my Department for 2012 is approximately €2,628 million. This comprises €1,339 million in Voted Exchequer funds and a further €1,289 million non Voted funds (100% funded by the EU), the bulk of which (€1,250 million) relates to the Single Payment Scheme. Of the total €2,628 million budget, approximately, €1,916 million is allocated to various budget lines involving payments to farmers. At the end of September 2012, the total number of staff directly employed by the Department was 3,292. The 2012 Administrative Budget, which funds all of the Department’s operational costs is €235 million, of which €184.5 million is allocated to fund staff salaries and wages. There are twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department listed in the table. The most recent figures available for the annual cost of these State Bodies which receive exchequer funding are outlined as follows:
|
Body |
Remuneration/Expenses Arrangements |
Total Amount of Central Funding for each Agency for 2012 |
|
Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board (ALAB) |
Chair: €8,978 Ordinary member: €5,985 |
€122,500 |
|
Bord Bia |
Chair: €20,520 Annual fees Ordinary member: €11,970 |
€35.182m |
|
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) |
Chair: €11,970 Ordinary member: €7,695 |
€17.000m |
|
Bord na gCon |
Chair: €21,600 Director’s fee: €12,600 |
€11.260m |
|
Coillte Teoranta |
Chair: €21,600 Director’s fee: €12,600 |
Receives no funding from the Exchequer |
|
Horse Racing Ireland |
Chair: €21,600 but has been waived by Chair since appointment in 2001 Director’s fee: €12,600 One Director has waived his fee since his appointment in 2005 |
€45.03m |
|
Irish National Stud |
Chair: €12,600 Director’s fee: €8,100 |
Receives no funding from the Exchequer |
|
Marine Institute |
Chair: €11,970 Ordinary member: €7,695 |
€22.450m |
|
National Milk Agency |
Only the Chair receives remuneration of €8,978 per annum |
Receives no funding from the Exchequer |
|
Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) |
Authority members paid as Principal Officers, Public Service pay rates |
€10.690m |
|
Teagasc |
Chair: €20,520 Ordinary member: €11,970 |
€128.460m |
|
Veterinary Council of Ireland |
No remuneration is paid to Board members |
Receives no funding from the Exchequer |
532. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49535/12]
View answerProcessing of the application concerned has recently been completed and payments under both the Single Payment Scheme and the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will shortly issue to the nominated bank account of the person named.
533. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are any circumstances whereby compensation due to a person under the TB eradication scheme will be granted to the herd keeper as opposed to the herd owner, with the consent of the herd owner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49539/12]
View answerThe rules governing the payment of compensation under the TB and Brucellosis eradication programme provide that payment is made to the herd owner, not to the keeper of the herd from which the reactors were removed. The herd keeper is the natural or legal person responsible for tending to and keeping animals on a day to day basis, whether on a permanent or temporary basis. This is a non financial role and therefore it is not possible to make payments to herd keepers, unless they have also registered an interest as owner.
Under the TB and Brucellosis Eradication Scheme, where payment of grants are likely to exceed €10,000 in any 12 month period, a Tax Clearance Certificate must be provided in respect of all persons registered as having an interest in the role of herd owner during the period concerned before any payment can issue. In the case in question, there was only one person registered as the herd owner at the time the animals were removed as reactors and since this person has been unable to provide a Tax Clearance Certificate, my Department is not in a position to issue the outstanding payments.
534. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a fisherman's group in west Cork (details supplied) has been unsuccessful in a number of grant applications in recent times; the way this situation can be improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49556/12]
View answerI understand that Cumann Iascaigh Chleire has applied to an Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for assistance under the Seafood Environmental Management Scheme (SEMS). The SEMS provides financial assistance, co-funded by the European Fisheries Fund, to recognised groups of fishing vessel owners/operators or organisations acting on their behalf, for the implementation and certification costs involved in achieving internationally accredited third party audited standards for wild capture fisheries.
I am advised by BIM that the application documentation was incomplete and was returned to the Cumann with a request to provide the outstanding documentation. BIM’s Regional Officer Network is available to mentor the seafood industry in the grant application process. I am informed that the Cumann is now actively liaising with BIM’s regional fisheries officer in the South West in relation to progressing its SEMS application.
535. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will receive their agri environment option scheme payment for 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49561/12]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 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 issues were identified in relation to the claimed areas on the Species Rich Grassland action. My Department is currently examining these issues and once satisfactorily resolved, payment will issue at the earliest opportunity.
536. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for stopping the spread of Charala fraxenia which is attacking ash trees commonly found in hedgerows across urban and rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49574/12]
View answerThe Department has surveyed for Chalara fraxinea since 2008. The first finding of the disease was confirmed on 12 October 2012 in County Leitrim. My Department has been resolute in its efforts to stop the spread of this disease and to prevent further infection. The consignment, made up of some 30,000 plants imported from continental Europe, was planted over 11 sites. The ash trees at each of these 11 sites were cut and destroyed by burning without delay last month. Symptoms were found initially on the site in Leitrim and then subsequently in a small number of trees in a site in Galway, two sites in Tipperary, a site in Meath and a site in Monaghan, all from this one infected batch. This work was undertaken with the co-operation of forest owners and forestry contractors and supervised by Departmental Forestry Inspectors.
Voluntary measures agreed with forestry stakeholders, the nursery sector and hurley makers to prevent the importation of infected material from the continent has now been superseded by robust legislation. This legislation, introduced simultaneously with Northern Ireland, makes it an offence to import plants from areas known to have Chalara fraxinea. Furthermore, the movement of plants within the country are now also subject to plant passport requirements. Legislation, was also signed into law, which control ash wood movement into Ireland, including firewood and hurley ash. Under the legislation ash wood may enter the State if (1) it comes from an area free of the disease or (2) its free of outer round surface (including bark) or (3) its kiln dried below 20% moisture.
In terms of future actions, site surveys of the ash estate are continuing this week. These surveys on the health of our ash trees will focus on sites which are at most risk from infection. These will include recently planted forests which used material imported ash plants from the continent. Examinations of ash imported wood and planting material will also be increased to enforce recently enacted legislation.
In relation to specific biosecurity measures to be observed where the disease is suspected or where ash surveys are being carried out the Department currently recommend the following hygiene measures. In relation to footwear, it is recommended to wash off all soil and plant debris from boots. Boots should then be sprayed with disinfectant and used water should be disposed of onto an area where the water will not run into a watercourse. In relation to clothing, it is recommended to check all clothing and remove any plant material. Soil and plant debris should be washed off all tools and equipment with disinfectant.
Forest owners, forest nursery staff and members of the public have been asked by my Department to be vigilant for the disease and report with photographs if possible, any sites where there are concerns about unusual ill health in ash trees to the Forest Service.
537. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding changes made to quotas in relation to the sentinel herring fishery; his views on whether some fishermen will lose out on quota as going from seven tonnes to two tonnes makes these boats non viable; and the boat owner operators understood that until this change they were entitled to seven tonnes; and if he will clarify the position regarding imperial or metric measurements of vessels and quotas. [49593/12]
View answerThe Celtic Sea Herring Management Advisory Committee (CSHMAC) has been in place for a number of years to advise the Minister on the management arrangements for the stock. The Committee comprise representatives of industry and processors and is chaired by the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation (IS&WFPO). The Department is not represented on the Committee nor is any other State agency. However, the Marine Institute advises the Committee from time to time on scientific issues relating to the stock and was very involved with the Committee in the preparation of a Rebuilding Plan for the Stock which was accepted by the Minister and submitted to the EU Commission.
As part of the recovery plan for Celtic Sea Herring stock the CSHMAC recommended the establishment in 2006 of a restricted fishery for vessels under 50ft in overall length in the Dunmore East spawning area to assist with the provision of scientific information on the stock. From 2007 to 2011, 8% of the overall Celtic Sea Herring quota was allotted to the fishery. In the years to 2007 to 2010 an average of 25 vessels booked into the fishery, a number of which subsequently chose not to participate. In 2011 this increased to 40 vessels and in 2012 the number booking in increased to 72 vessels. Most of these vessels had never participated in the Sentinel Fishery before.
As part of the revised Ministerial policy on Celtic Sea Herring announced in June 2012, the proportion of Herring quota allocated to the Sentinel was increased to 11% of the national quota, which is the maximum amount that the fishery can sustain, as advised by the Marine Institute. At the same time, a whitefish and shellfish preclusion was introduced for participants for the duration of the fishery.
As the maximum quota to this fishery is restricted by the scientific advice available, the possible quota allocations are greatly impacted of the number of vessels booking in. The CSHMAC, having regard to the number of vessels booking-in and the amount of quota available, recommended a set of management arrangements agreed by all industry representatives on the committee for 2012. I accepted these recommendations.
In view of the changes to herring fisheries in 2012, I provided vessels booked into the fishery with the opportunity to book out of the fishery, without penalty, by Friday 9 November as the individual allocations available were known at the time. The arrangements in place including the size categories of vessels for allocations, were recommended by the CSHMAC. The Department brought the matter to the attention of the CSHMAC, who has advised the that tier categories are set out on a pilot basis for 2012 and the committee intends to propose changes to area of categorisation for 2013, including the issue of imperial Vs decimal vessel sizing.
Until I have an opportunity to examine the proposals from the CSHMAC and decide on clarifications, if any, to the current situation, the imperial measurement system will continue to apply. It is important to point out that any changes introduced will be based on a full evaluation, taking account of the situation of all vessels and the proper and rational management of this fishery. Accordingly, the possible impact of any changes on individual vessels can not be anticipated.
538. 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 single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49620/12]
View answerThe person concerned is an applicant under the 2012 Single Payment and Disadvantaged Area Schemes.
In order to meet EU requirements, the application concerned was one of a number which was selected for inspection. The inspection process is now complete and any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
