Written Answers Nos. 210-214
210. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Defence if he will confirm the percentage of poultry produce used in meals for army barracks that is of Irish origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53644/12]
View answerThe current contract for the provision of fresh poultry products to the Defence Forces was placed with Kildare Farm Foods, an Irish Company based in Kildare in May 2011 following an open tender competition. The contract value is in the region of €630,000 (ex VAT) over a two year period.
I am advised by the Defence Forces that 80% of all the poultry products provided by Kildare Farm Foods for the Defence Forces are sourced from Irish suppliers. The remainder is sourced by Kildare Farm Foods from European suppliers. The Defence Forces are satisfied that the poultry products from Kildare Farm Foods are fully certified in all respects and that the products meet the required Irish, English and EU specifications.
The Defence Forces are obliged to carry out the procurement of food products in an open and transparent manner and in line with National and EU Public Procurement Guidelines. The Defence Forces have absolutely no discretion in this regard.
211. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the proposals for the new commonage framework in view of the adverse affect it will have on County Kerry farmers. [53399/12]
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.
212. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is forestry land for sale in County Donegal owned by Coillte or the State; his plans for the sale of forestry lands owned by Coillte within the State; if he will reiterate the promise made at the McGill summer school in 2012 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53406/12]
View answerI understand that Coillte is selling forestry land in Co. Donegal by public tender. This transaction is an operational matter at the discretion of the company and is separate from the Government decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be put forward for sale. Under that process, the identification of the forestry assets involved, the determination of their value and the consideration of a number of issues associated with the proposed harvesting rights concession are at an advanced stage. I wish to confirm that, as announced by the Government in February 2012, this consideration about the sale of some forestry assets of Coillte excludes the sale of land.
213. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when single farm payments and disadvantaged area payments will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [53423/12]
View answerThe 50% advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme issued to the person named on 16 October; the balancing payment is due to issue on 1 December.
Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas scheme is due to issue shortly, as the holding concerned has only recently been confirmed as satisfying the stocking requirements.
214. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a compensation scheme for suckler producers whose herds have been infected by BVD and who have had multiple PIs taken out of their herd and undertake to ensure the continuation of the €100 compensation on the dams of PI calves plus reduced knackery charges for producers affected in 2013. [53440/12]
View answerI have received a request to provide funding in respect of the compulsory phase of the BVD programme. This request must be placed in the context of the economic benefits accruing to farmers arising from the eradication of this disease and, particularly, the short payback time involved as well as the budgetary resources available to my Department. It has been estimated that the overall benefit for the eradication of this disease is beneficial to farmers. I should also emphasise that it is important that my Department concentrates its scarce resources in continuing to support Animal Health Ireland in its ongoing work in establishing control programmes for non-regulated diseases of livestock in Ireland.
