Written Answers Nos. 480 - 503
480. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Defence the cost of external agencies involved in recruitment campaigns to the Defence Forces for the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; if he will provide the names of the companies; the fee structure involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54238/12]
View answerIt has not been possible in the time available to compile all the necessary information requested by the Deputy. The information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
481. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Defence if there are any voluntary redundancy schemes available for members of the Irish Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54563/12]
View answerThe Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is currently considering the introduction of a targeted Voluntary Redundancy Scheme in parts of the Public Service, primarily to address the issue of staff surpluses where staff cannot be redeployed within the system. Given the fact that the Defence Forces are currently below strength and that recruitment is ongoing, there are no plans to introduce a voluntary redundancy scheme for the Defence Forces at this time.
482. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a clause can be built into any sale of Coillte forests to guarantee the current supply of round logs to the sawmilling industry here; if a similar clause is being put in place to protect and guarantee the supply of timber to the Coillte board plants at Waterford and Clonmel; if he will instruct NewERA to establish a guarantee within any sale documents drafted by NewERA or Coillte to protect and guarantee the present supply of round logs to the Irish sawmilling industry, as has been done recently in New South Wales on foot of the mistakes made in New Zealand, or if this guarantee is not to be included; the plans in place to replace the loss of the 12,000 jobs currently employed in the timber industry should the supply of round logs to the sawmilling sector here not be protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54414/12]
View answerFurther to the Government decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale, Coillte Board and management have been actively engaged in recent months with NewERA, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department to examine the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte’s forest assets.
The process is at an advanced stage and, aside from the valuation of the forestry assets, a number of issues have been identified in relation to the possible harvesting rights concession. These include, inter alia, the possible impact to the timber industry, environmental and social impacts and consequential implications for the company and levels of employments. These issues, and the measures, if necessary, to address them, require detailed consideration. Case studies of the sale of State owned forestry in other countries, including New Zealand, has formed part of the analysis to date.
483. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive their agri-environment option scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53710/12]
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. During these checks an issue was identified in relation to the claimed area on the Traditional Hay Meadow action. My Department is currently examining this issue and once satisfactorily resolved, payment will issue at the earliest opportunity.
484. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment for derogation 2012 will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53717/12]
View answerThe person named has recently been advised of the success of his derogation application under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. Payment will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account.
485. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm if a letter was sent by Bord Iascaigh Mhara to him complaining about members of Inland Fisheries Ireland attending a public meeting in Galway on 14 November last; if so, if he will provide a copy of same to this Deputy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53721/12]
View answerMy Department has received email communications from an Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) outlining what had happened at a public information meeting in Galway concerning BIM’s application for an aquaculture licence and a foreshore licence. The application in question is under active consideration by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act as amended. The application is therefore part of an ongoing deliberative process and it would not be appropriate to issue the Deputy a copy of the communications pending a determination in respect of the application.
486. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be reached on an aquaculture and foreshore licence in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53725/12]
View answerThe application referred to is in respect of a site in Ballycotton Bay, which is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 site).
All applications in ‘Natura’ areas are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Birds and/or Habitats Directives prior to any licensing determinations. My Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is engaged in a multi-annual work programme to achieve full compliance with the ‘Natura’ Directives. This involves gathering baseline data appropriate to the conservation objectives of ‘Natura’ areas, data analysis and the setting of appropriate conservation objectives by NPWS. This will enable all new, renewal and review applications to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the relevant Directives. This work is on-going and 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. My Department continues to make every effort to expedite the determination of this aquaculture licence application having regard to the need to comply with all national and EU legislation.
487. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area scheme payment and a REP scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53727/12]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in May 2008 and received payments for the first four years of their contract. REPS 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. In the course of the administrative checks an area discrepancy was discovered between the Single Farm Payment application for 2012 and the REPS Agri-environmental plan which has resulted in the need for further clarification. This issue is currently being investigation with a view to an early resolution and payment in respect of 2012.
Payment under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme has not yet issued as the holding of the person named has not yet satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements. When this requirement is satisfied the case will be further processed with a view to payment at the earliest possible date.
488. 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 agus faoi íocaíocht aonair feirme, single farm payment, 2012 d'fheilmeoir (sonraí tugtha) [53730/12]
View answerÓ tharla iarratas an duine ainmnithe a bheith próiseáilte le déanaí, eiseofar íocaíocht go luath chuig cuntas bainc ainmnithe an té sin.
489. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a derogation application appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [53732/12]
View answerThe appeal of the person named was recently forwarded to the DAS Appeals Committee for consideration; immediately that Committee has adjudicated on this appeal, the person concerned will be notified of their decision, in writing.
490. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not yet received their disadvantaged area payment and their single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53739/12]
View answerIn order to meet EU requirements, the application concerned was one of a number which was selected for inspection. However, as this revealed an over-declaration of greater than 20%, no payment is due under the 2012 Single Payment Scheme. The person named was notified to this effect by letter dated 1 November. Payment under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued to the person named on 19 November 2012, directly to the nominated bank account; this payment was not adversely impacted by the results of the inspection, as the area declared by the person named was in excess of the Scheme 34-hectare maximum payable area.
491. 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 d'fheilmeoir (sonraí tugtha); agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [53758/12]
View answerEisíodh íocaíocht faoin Scéim um Limistéir faoi Mhíbhuntáiste 2012 ar an 3 Samhain chuig cúntas bainc ainmnithe an duine ainmnithe.
492. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an appeal on disadvantaged area payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork with particular reference to the derogation process on this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53763/12]
View answerThe appeal of the person named was recently forwarded to the DAS Appeals Committee for consideration; immediately that Committee has adjudicated on this appeal, the person concerned will be notified of their decision, in writing.
493. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will respond to correspondence (details supplied) furnished to him on 25 September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53765/12]
View answerI regret that it has not been possible in the interim to respond to the correspondence referred to. However, I will now set out the position in relation to this case.
The person named was the subject of a Nitrates inspection by my Department, on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, on 15 March 2012. This inspection recorded breaches relating to the Nitrates Regulations and also the requirement to maintain lands in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition. As a result, a penalty of 25% was applied. The person named was notified of this decision on 5th of April 2012 and of the right to seek a review. To date, no such request has been received. However, this option remains open and my Department has forwarded the requisite application form to facilitate the person concerned. The outcome of this review can, in due course, be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office. I might add that I am acutely aware of the weather-related difficulties being experienced by farmers and my Department makes every effort to take account of this and other factors during inspections, insofar as EU rules allow.
494. Deputy Michael Moynihan 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 Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53770/12]
View answerPayment under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued to the person named on 29 November 2012, directly to the nominated bank account.
495. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in respect of the October Exchequer returns, the reason the capital spending for his Department was €13m below profile for this period; his plans to ensure that the full capital spending is implemented before the end of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53825/12]
View answerA profile of projected expenditure on a monthly basis is drawn up at the beginning of each year in order to anticipate the Department’s funding requirements and financial management over the course of the year. The profile which is the best estimate of expenditure available at the time is difficult to forecast and may vary significantly during the year for a variety of reasons, such as the level of payments under demand led schemes, the pattern of drawdown of Grants-in-Aid by State bodies, etc. A monthly report is prepared showing actual expenditure against the profile.
The October Exchequer returns for my Department and show that the there are a number of budget lines, which are, for a variety of reasons, behind profile. I expect that in most cases expenditure will ‘catch up’ before the end of the year. Expenditure is being monitored and managed carefully with a view to minimising savings on this year’s Vote. The final outcome is to a large extent driven by factors outside the Department’s control but in the overall context of the Department’s Vote of €1.339billion, I do not expect a significant underspend this year.
496. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when area aid payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53841/12]
View answerThe appeal of the person named was recently forwarded to the DAS Appeals Committee for consideration; immediately that Committee has adjudicated on this appeal, the person concerned will be notified of their decision, in writing.
497. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue on disadvantaged area scheme appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will take the additional information into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53844/12]
View answerThe appeal of the person named was recently forwarded to the DAS Appeals Committee for consideration; immediately that Committee has adjudicated on this appeal, the person concerned will be notified of their decision, in writing.
498. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue on a disadvantaged area scheme appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will take the additional information into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53880/12]
View answerThe appeal of the person named was recently forwarded to the DAS Appeals Committee for consideration; immediately that Committee has adjudicated on this appeal, the person concerned will be notified of their decision, in writing.
499. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue on a disadvantaged area scheme appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will take the additional information into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53889/12]
View answerThe person named is one of a number, their derogation application having been unsuccessful, who were offered the option to appeal to the independently chaired DAS Appeals Committee. While, to date, the person named has not availed of this option, it remains open.
500. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of the top 100 beneficiaries of the single farm payment who tested fewer than 50 cattle in their annual herd test in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54012/12]
View answer501. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers in receipt of single farm payment who tested fewer than 200 cattle in their annual herd test in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54013/12]
View answer502. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who have no entitlement to the single farm payment; the number of cattle these farmers tested in their annual herd test in 2011; the number of sheep these farmers declared on their annual sheep census 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54014/12]
View answer503. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers whose single farm payment was less than €5,000 in 2011; the number of cattle these farmers tested in their annual herd test 2011; the number of sheep these farmers declared on their annual sheep census 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54015/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 500 to 503, inclusive, together.
The information requested is being complied at present and will be forwarded to the Deputy directly.
