Written Answers Nos. 520 - 540
520. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the innovative fin fish farming projects that are inland away from the coast; and the action he and BIM are taking to support these projects. [51119/12]
View answerI am aware of a number of innovative, inland fin-fish farming projects, including the farming of European Perch and Arctic Charr in a number of locations in Counties Sligo, Cavan, Galway Roscommon and Tipperary. My Department and BIM are working very closely with the promoters of these projects. I understand that some are open and trading, while others are currently seeking further inward investment to reopen and restock. BIM advise me that the market prospects for these species are very good and the customer reaction and prices achieved thus far have been positive.
BIM has a dedicated project officer in place supplying these companies with technical support. Assistance has been provided by BIM as these companies have developed. I would hope that those units currently out of production can be brought back on line as soon as possible so as to take advantage of the excellent market opportunity for their products.
521. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for single farm and area aid grants in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal and when payment will issue. [51130/12]
View answerAs processing of the 2012 Single Payment Scheme and 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application has recently been finalised, payments will shortly issue, directly to the nominated bank account.
522. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for area aid grants in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal and when payment will issue. [51131/12]
View answerAs processing of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application has recently been finalised, payment will shortly issue directly to the nominated bank account.
523. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for disadvantaged area scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal and when payment will issue. [51132/12]
View answerThe person named is an applicant under the 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. As soon as the inspection and related processes are completed, the application concerned will be progressed.
524. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for disadvantaged area scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal and when payment will issue. [51133/12]
View answerAs processing of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application has recently been finalised, payment will shortly issue directly to the nominated bank account.
525. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to prevent the spread of chalara fraxinea, the fungus that causes ash dieback; the systems in place to measure the effectiveness of the preventative steps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51135/12]
View answerOn the 26th October 2012, I introduced legislation to prohibit the importation into Ireland of plant material from ash dieback infected areas. The measures make it an offence to import ash plants and seed from any country known to have the disease. As the island of Ireland has harmonised plant health status under the EU Plant Health Directive, these legal measures were introduced in conjunction with similar measures taken by the Northern Ireland.
While plants are a higher risk pathway, scientific advice is that the movement of ash timber is also a possible pathway of infection. Legislation on the movement of ash wood was introduced on the 6th November 2012 and will limit the movement of ash wood into the island of Ireland.
The Department has been surveying for Chalara since 2008 and will continue to do so. In fact these surveys are being intensified as the Department are in the process of carrying out an extensive survey of forests with a specific focus on sites planted with imported ash. Specific training for the winter symptoms of ash dieback has been provided to District Forestry Inspectors and horticultural staff. Department Inspectors are also surveying for this disease in garden centres, nurseries and landscape plantings. Our website provides details of the disease and contact phone numbers and an email address for anyone who believes they may have ash with the disease. My Department and Teagasc have prepared a poster on the disease which we intend circulating to every Teagasc, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Coillte and NPWS office in the country as well as other relevant private sector offices. The aim will be to inform people of the symptoms of the disease and so promote a policy of early detection.
Minister McEntee held a number of meetings with Coillte, representatives of the Forestry Sector, the IFA and the hurly makers.
526. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the discussions he has held with Coillte in relation to the prevention of the spread of chalara fraxinea, the fungus that causes ash dieback; if additional resources have been given to Coillte in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51136/12]
View answerThe Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, Shane McEntee, has had a number of meetings with Coillte and the other representatives of the forest industry in relation to this disease. While this Department has overall responsibility for forestry including the protection of the forest estate from harmful insects and diseases, Coillte as a commercial semi-state company has a role to play within its own estate in terms of preventing and managing disease outbreaks. The company has indicated its willingness to assist in preventing the spread of this disease and has offered to increase its ash output to provide alternative sources of material to the hurley making industry.
527. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans he has to develop a single brand for our agri-food sector globally to market Ireland as a food island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51194/12]
View answerThe Brand Ireland recommendation in the Food Harvest 2020 strategy reflected an endorsement by the agri-food industry of the previous “Pathways for Growth” assessment by Harvard Business School working with Bord Bia. The approach was to develop an umbrella brand, or enhanced reputation, with verifiable sustainability at its core, which is credible, distinctive and embraces all aspects of Irish food and drink.
Work on this has progressed and the Irish agri-food industry has made significant commitments to development and expansion around the principles of sustainability and scale. The goal is to grow in a way that is reflective of our enduring strengths as food producers and as agile players in a competitive marketplace. With this explicit commitment to sustainability, Ireland can build a reputation as a world leader in high-quality food production and be recognised as such by international retailers and foodservice providers who, virtually without exception, see sustainability as a key driver of their growth in the years ahead.
In June this year An Taoiseach launched Origin Green - the Bord Bia-led Sustainability Programme to industry. He went on to launch it on the international stage last month at SIAL Paris – the world’s largest food fair.
At the heart of Origin Green is a Sustainability Charter – demonstrating the commitment of the Irish food and drink manufacturers to engage directly and robustly with the challenges of sustainability by reducing energy inputs, minimizing their overall carbon footprint and lessening their impact on the environment.
To date 130 leading Irish food and drink companies representing 55% of Irish food and drink exports have registered their interest in Origin Green and the ambition is to have 75% of its exports accredited to Origin Green by 2014. These individual companies will set targets under headings of waste, water and biodiversity and will be able to highlight their improvements as part of an independently verified programme.
The ultimate intention is the creation of a significant point of differentiation for the Irish food and drink industry around the area of sustainability.
The Deputy will be aware that under EU rules public funds may not be used to advertise on the basis of origin. Further information is available on Origin Green at www.origingreen.ie.
528. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for anaerobic digestion as a means of producing electricity and providing an added income option for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51195/12]
View answerIn 2007, my Department approved grant-aid for development of ten on-farm anaerobic digesters under the National Development Plan. To date, only one of these has been drawn down and it is likely that a maximum of four or five others will come to fruition. Provision was made in my Department’s Estimates in 2012 to provide for one of these projects, but it has not as yet reached completion. Applicants, on request, are being provided with extensions until end-2013 to complete the investment works needed in order to draw down the grant-aid available.
The Deputy may be aware that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, T.D., has announced his intention to publish a National Bioenergy Strategy in the coming months. This strategy will examine all aspects of the bioenergy sector so as to inform the actions required to maximise its contribution to achieving the 2020 targets under the Renewable Energy Directive. My Department is working closely with Minister Rabbitte’s Department in assessing the potential of bioenergy from the agriculture and forestry sectors to contribute to the 2020 targets. Any decisions in relation to future developments in the bioenergy sector will be taken in the context of this exercise.
Officials from my Department have also been in contact with a number of individuals who have proposals for anaerobic digestion facilities, and will engage with them on the how these proposals might be progressed.
529. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a REP scheme 4 payment will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51219/12]
View answerMy Department is currently examining issues in relation to the eligibility of some the land declared by the person named for scheme payments. The claim has been the subject of a REPS 4 inspection in 2012. It is hoped to complete this examination as soon as possible with a view to determining how to proceed in relation to the application for payment under REPS 4.
530. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite all REP scheme payments due; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51220/12]
View answerREPS 4 is a measure under the 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 nearing completion for 2012 REPS 4 applications and I expect that payments will commence shortly.
531. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of the number of farm inspections carried out in County Kerry between June 2009 to June 2010, June 2010 to June 2011 and June 2011 to June 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51242/12]
View answerMy Department, in the context of delivering the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme and other area related schemes, is required to carry out annual inspections covering land eligibility and cross compliance to ensure compliance with EU regulatory requirements.
Eligibility checks must be carried out on 5% of applicants, to verify that the actual area claimed in the application form corresponds to the area farmed and to ensure that any ineligible land/features are deducted. Up to two-thirds of these inspections are carried out in the first instance without a farm visit, as the information is verified using the technique of remote sensing via satellite.
The rate of inspection for cross compliance is 1% of applicants to whom the Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) and Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) applies. However 3% of farmers must be inspected under the bovine identification and registration requirements, while 3% of sheep/goat owners must be inspected covering 5% of the flock.
In 2010, in an effort to minimise duplication of farm inspections between the two Departments, my Department agreed to carry out some 1,600 nitrates inspections under the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) regulations on behalf of the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG). This arrangement was retained for both 2011 and 2012.
My Department is committed to ensuring the maximum level of integration of inspections and will continue to review inspection programmes in all areas with the aim of increasing integration, where this is a feasible option.
Set out in tabular form is the overall number of farm inspections, including remote sensing inspections, carried out in Co Kerry under the main areas based schemes, [i.e. Single Payment Scheme (SPS) and Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (DAS), Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) and Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS)] and also those undertaken on behalf of DECLG, broken down for the periods requested:
|
- |
1st June 2009 to 31st May 2010 |
1st June 2010 to 31st May 2011 |
1st June 2011 to 31st May 2012 |
|
Number of Farm Inspections |
1,240 |
1,141 |
968 |
532. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a íocfar deontas faoi scéim na limistéar faoi mhíbhuntáiste, disadvantage area scheme, 2012 le feilmeoir (sonraí tugtha) ós rud é gur cuireadh an t-eolas a bhí iarrtha ag a Roinn ar an bhfeilmeoir ar aghaidh chuig an Roinn mí ó shin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [51253/12]
View answerNuair a bhíothas ag próiseáil iarratas an té atá ainmnithe faoi Scéim na hAoníocaíochta 2012 / Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste 2012 tugadh ar aird gur déanadh ró-éileamh maidir le dhá ghabháltas talún a tugadh. Scríobhadh chuig an té atá ainmnithe le soiléiriú a fháil air seo. Ní féidir an cás seo a chur chun cinn nó go mbeidh freagra faighte.
533. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford has only received 20 per cent of their single farm payment this year and received no single farm payment last year. [51254/12]
View answerAn application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 3rd May 2011. In order to comply with EU requirements, the application was one of a number which was selected for inspection. This inspection resulted in a finding of an over-declaration in area of greater than 20%, which, under the terms and conditions of the scheme, resulted is no payment issuing for 2011. The applicant was notified of this outcome and the reason for it. A request for review was received and is currently being examined. The applicant will be notified as soon as possible of the outcome of this review, which can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office within 3 months of the date of the review.
An application under the 2012 Single Payment Scheme was received on 12th May 2012 and a 50% advance payment issued on 16th October 2012. This advance payment took account of the fact that the applicant had transferred entitlements and also reflected the recovery of a penalty under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme, notified to the applicant on 10th October 2012.
534. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not received any disadvantaged area scheme payment this year. [51255/12]
View answerThe person named is one of a number, their derogation applications having been unsuccessful, who have now appealed my Department’s decision to the recently constituted, independently chaired, DAS Appeals Committee. Immediately that Committee has adjudicated on the appeal, the person named will be advised of the Committee’s decision, in writing.
535. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the farm inspections carried out for the years June 2009 to June 2010, June 2010 to June 2011 and June 2011 to June 2012, the result of these farm inspections; the number of farmers that had cuts imposed upon them, either by area aid or other actions taken by his Department following on from these farm inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51277/12]
View answerAs it is not possible to compile the full information requested in the available timescale, I am arranging for it to be provided directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
536. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when letters will issue to farmers informing them of the amount of stock they will be entitled to keep on commonages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51279/12]
View answerThe Commonage Framework Plans, first published in 2002, have been reviewed to take account of the current vegetative condition of commonages nationally. This review which will replace the Commonage Framework Plans has been carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in co-operation with my Department. The review was carried out on a commonage LPIS parcel basis and sets a minimum and maximum number of ewe equivalents (EE) required to graze the commonage parcel to ensure that it is maintained in Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC). I am currently considering an implementation plan to take account of the changed stocking levels.
My Department is trying to reconcile the reality of commonages with the EU requirements of GAEC. I will work with the farmers, farm organisations and others to design a practical solution.
537. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to changes in the rules regarding commonages, his views on whether there needs to be flexibility in the way the rules are policed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51282/12]
View answerThe Commonage Framework Plans, first published in 2002, have been reviewed to take account of the current vegetative condition of commonages nationally. This review which will replace the Commonage Framework Plans has been carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in co-operation with my Department. The review was carried out on a commonage LPIS parcel basis and sets a minimum and maximum number of ewe equivalents (EE) required to graze the commonage parcel to ensure that it is maintained in Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC). I am currently considering an implementation plan to take account of the changed stocking levels.
My Department is trying to reconcile the reality of commonages with the EU requirements of GAEC. I will work with the farmers, farm organisations and others to design a practical solution.
538. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether proposals to introduce a new management system for the 7,000 commonages throughout the country, is a threat to an individual farmer who complies with what he agreed regarding the commonage can be penalised if other farmers on the commonage do not, with regard to stocking density; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51289/12]
View answerThe Commonage Framework Plans, first published in 2002, have been reviewed to take account of the current vegetative condition of commonages nationally. This review which will replace the Commonage Framework Plans has been carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in co-operation with my Department. The review was carried out on a commonage LPIS parcel basis and sets a minimum and maximum number of ewe equivalents (EE) required to graze the commonage parcel to ensure that it is maintained in Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC). I am currently considering an implementation plan to take account of the changed stocking levels.
My Department is trying to reconcile the reality of commonages with the EU requirements of GAEC. I will work with the farmers, farm organisations and others to design a practical solution.
539. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to his proposals for the management of the 7,000 commonages across Ireland that seems to rely on all farmers using the commonage to agree on the number of ewes each will put on the commonage to ensure that the overall commonage minimums and maximums are maintained, the outcome when farmers cannot agree on the figures to be put on the mountain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51290/12]
View answerThe Commonage Framework Plans, first published in 2002, have been reviewed to take account of the current vegetative condition of commonages nationally. This review which will replace the Commonage Framework Plans has been carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in co-operation with my Department. The review was carried out on a commonage LPIS parcel basis and sets a minimum and maximum number of ewe equivalents (EE) required to graze the commonage parcel to ensure that it is maintained in Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC). I am currently considering an implementation plan to take account of the changed stocking levels.
My Department is trying to reconcile the reality of commonages with the EU requirements of GAEC. I will work with the farmers, farm organisations and others to design a practical solution.
540. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reject out of hand the policy document on the future management of commonage land here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51292/12]
View answerThe Commonage Framework Plans, first published in 2002, have been reviewed to take account of the current vegetative condition of commonages nationally. This review which will replace the Commonage Framework Plans has been carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in co-operation with my Department. The review was carried out on a commonage LPIS parcel basis and sets a minimum and maximum number of ewe equivalents (EE) required to graze the commonage parcel to ensure that it is maintained in Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC). I am currently considering an implementation plan to take account of the changed stocking levels.
My Department is trying to reconcile the reality of commonages with the EU requirements of GAEC. I will work with the farmers, farm organisations and others to design a practical solution.
