Written Answers Nos. 396-403
396. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be paid a 2012 disadvantaged area payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55305/12]
View answerPayment under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme has not yet issued as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not yet satisfied the scheme minimum stocking density requirements for 2012. As soon as 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.
397. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of a single farm payment for 2011 will be issued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55306/12]
View answerThe advance payment in respect of the 2011 Single Payment Scheme application of the person named issued on 17 October 2011 and the balancing payment on 1 December 2011, both directly to the nominated bank account.
398. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will receive a disadvantaged area payment. [55318/12]
View answerAs processing of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application has recently been finalised, payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account.
399. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the correspondence that he has had with a person (details supplied) in County Sligo regarding an agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55319/12]
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, an issue was identified in relation to the claimed area on the Species Rich Grassland action. My Department is examining this issue and once satisfactorily resolved, payment will issue at the earliest opportunity.
400. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision on an application under the targeted agriculture modernisation scheme has been made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55340/12]
View answerThe person concerned has submitted an application for grant-aid under the current tranche of the TAMS Dairy Equipment Scheme which closes on 31 January 2013. His application is currently being examined as far as the eligibility conditions of the Scheme are concerned. Subject to the application being considered eligible, the application will be included in the selection process which will take place as soon as possible after the closure of the current tranche.
401. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) was not re-allocated the excess quota. [55356/12]
View answerAt the close of the first management period in the Celtic Sea herring sentinel fishery on 30 November last, this vessel did not appear to qualify based on individual landings for the second management period. The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority confirmed on 4 December last that this vessel, based on pairing arrangements, did land the required amount in the first management period and so the vessel was included in the second management period. A quota notification for this vessel issued on 4 December 2012. In relation to the requirement to land 50% of the first period allocation to qualify for the second fishing period, I received a large number of appeals due to a variety of reasons such as bad weather, mechanical breakdown and size. A number of small inshore vessels had advised that they were unable to participate due to their size, weather conditions and the location of the stock. In view of this, I have decided to vary the management arrangements to remove the 50% landing requirement. In order to implement an effect management regime for the remainder of the fishery, I decided that any vessel which has booked in shall receive an allocation for a two-week period from 00:01 on 9 December 2012 to 00.01 on 21 December 2012.
402. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on an application for agri-environment options scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55357/12]
View answerAn AEOS 3 application was received in the Johnstown Castle Office of my Department from the person named on 27 November 2012. The closing date for receipt of applications was Friday, 7 December and approximately 10,000 applications have been submitted. All applications received are now being processed with a view to issuing approvals to successful applicants as soon as possible.
403. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current position regarding animal rights legislation that is currently progressing through the Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55372/12]
View answerThe Animal Health and Welfare Bill which I am bringing forward consolidates a wide range of existing legislation. As such, it will apply in a wide range of situations affecting the welfare of animals and so can be enforced by a range of State bodies that include officers of my Department, An Garda Síochána, the Customs and Excise and Local Authorities. The Animal Health and Welfare Bill, which is on Committee Stage in the Dáil, sets out general horizontal rules on health and welfare that will apply to all animals. It does not set out detailed rules for individual species or sectors. These can be dealt with through a variety of means such as Codes of Practice, Regulations or other primary legislation which can lay down more detailed laws for specific animals in certain cases; for example, the Control of Horses Act and The Dog Breeding Establishments Act.
