Written Answers Nos. 286-303
287. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to date in the investigation into a complaint by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8030/13]
View answerI am aware of the case referred to by the Deputy, and I have requested a report on the current position from the Garda authorities. I will contact the Deputy directly when the report is to hand.
288. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current position in regard to residency-eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8031/13]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for permission to remain from the person concerned is currently being processed. The person was living in the State for a period of almost 20 months without permission to remain before making the application. I understand that a decision will issue to the person shortly.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
289. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current position in regard to examination and determination of eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8032/13]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in December, 2011.
The application is at an advanced stage of processing and the applicant will be informed of my decision in due course. There is no record of an application for family-reunification having been submitted by the person referred to.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
290. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total amount spent on outsourced security services in his Department; and if he will provide details of the companies providing these services. [8478/13]
View answerThe Deputy did not specify what services were covered by the term "outsourced security services" or indicate a specific period of time with regard to the information sought in her question. Accordingly, my Department has interpreted the question as relating solely to outsourced security personnel employed by my Department (and not agencies of the Department) in the calendar year 2012, not including areas such as alarm and security equipment maintenance. Having regard to this interpretation I can inform the Deputy that no monies were expended by my Department on outsourced security services in the calendar year in question.
291. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total amount spent on outsourced cleaning services in his Department; and if he will provide details of the companies providing these services. [8492/13]
View answerThe amount spent on cleaning services from my Department's Vote was as follows, 2011 €228,300.26; 2012 €189,943.19 and to the end of January 2013 €11,143.17. These figures contain payments made in respect of cleaning services, janitorial supplies and other incidental cleaning costs.
Following an EU procurement exercise a Cleaning Services Framework was established to provide cleaning services. This is a simple way to procure these services to my Department at competitive rates from a list of qualified vendors. The starting date for the Framework Agreement was 21 June 2010 and it is for a 4 year term. The five qualified vendors were Grosvenor Cleaning Services; Derrycourt Company Limited; ISS Facility Services; Momentum Support Services Ireland Limited and G4S Support Services and the vast majority of payments were made to these companies.
292. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if it is proposed to transfer any NCOs currently stationed in Parkgate, Dublin to Newbridge, County Kildare or to any other location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7767/13]
View answerI am advised that the Defence Forces have no plans to transfer NCOs from Parkgate, Dublin to Newbridge, Co Kildare. However, I am advised on foot of plans for the Director of Public Prosecutions to fully occupy the office accommodation at Parkgate, it will be necessary to relocate Defence Forces personnel currently based there to McKee Barracks.
293. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Defence the total amount spent on outsourced security services in his Department; and if he will provide details of the companies providing these services. [8471/13]
View answerAs a result of a number of incidents since their closure, additional security measures have been put in place at Rockhill House, Donegal and Columb Barracks, Mullingar. For obvious reasons it is not my Department’s policy to go into specific detail in relation to those measures but I can say that the effectiveness of the security measures are being continuously monitored. Approximately €17,400 per month is being paid in respect of those security measures.
294. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Defence the total amount spent on outsourced cleaning services in his Department; and if he will provide details of the companies providing these services. [8485/13]
View answerThe table sets out the costs for 2012 incurred by my Department for outsourced cleaning services.
|
Service Provider for Newbridge, Co. Kildare |
Costs - 2012 |
|
ALLPRO Cleaning Services |
€ 84,000 |
|
Service Provider for Renmore, Co. Galway |
|
|
Noonan’s Cleaning Services |
€ 41,500 |
|
Service Provider for Civil Defence, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary |
|
|
ALLPRO Cleaning Services |
€ 24,303 |
|
Service Provider for NECC, Kildare St, Dublin 2 |
|
|
Ailesbury Cleaning Services |
€ 3,789 |
|
Service Provider for South Leinster St, Dublin 2 |
|
|
Ailesbury Cleaning Services |
€ 1,770 |
|
TOTAL |
€155,362 |
295. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding offering incentives and encouragement to young persons to take up farming, if he has any specific proposal for the type of person referred to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7796/13]
View answerSince taking office I have been concerned by the poor age structure in Irish farming. Recent analysis shows that there are more farmers over 80 than under 35 in Ireland. I have been working to encourage more new entrants to take up farming as a career. Budget 2013 saw the extension of key reliefs that were already in place for young new entrants (such as the 100% relief from Stamp Duty and the 100% stock relief for Young Trained Farmers). Extending these reliefs is not straightforward given that there is a requirement for EU State Aid approval for such measures. The deputy will also be aware that changes were made to retirement relief in budget 2012 to encourage inter-generational land transfers.
The correspondence provided by the deputy suggests that course will not help the situation. I believe that education is fundamental to the future of farming. I am delighted that the number of applicants for Teagasc courses has greatly increased the last two years. Teagasc has responded well to this demand and have introduced new courses to cater for a variety of needs. For example Teagasc has recently launched a new Professional Diploma in Dairy Farm Management (Level 7) in association with University College Dublin (UCD). Teagasc have also developed recently a new Level 6 Specific Purpose Certificate in Farm Administration course to help meet the training requirements for full-time or part-time farmers.
Young people are essential to delivering the smart, green growth being sought under the food harvest strategy. It comes as no surprise to me that the young Entrepreneur of the year is a farmer and used his farming experience to create an innovative product that farmers worldwide are now using. I hope that other entrepreneurial young farmers will follow this example and develop Irish farming so that it becomes a model for others.
Measures to provide targeted support to young farmers are part of the current negotiations on the reform of the CAP and will I hope form part of any final agreement. I have strongly supported the proposal for a top-up for young farmers under pillar 1 of the CAP, and indeed Ireland was one of the first countries to suggest this measure in the negotiations.
I am also happy that the new restructuring relief has been announced in the 2013 budget. This is the result of detailed work which analysed the reasons why the old consolidation relief was not working. I am confident that the new relief in relation to Capital Gains Taxes, once State Aid approval has been received, will be more effective, especially given that Stamp Duty rates have been reduced. Re-structuring is essential for us to meet the Food Harvest 2020 targets. We need to use land more productively and encourage more young farmers to make the best use of the land. A recent EU Commission study found that
‘younger [farm] managers tend to perform better than the EU average, with 46% more area and 57% more economic potential for 21% more labour force’ [[1] Commission Staff Working Paper, Impact Assessment, CAP towards 2020, Annex 1: Situation and prospects for EU agriculture and rural areas , p. 25. Brussels, 12/10/2011.1].
Ireland has a very low level of land sales, with most land staying within the same family for generations. Only 0.4% of land changes hand in any given year. Young farmers that want to expand need to be able to access land. According to the latest census of agriculture the average farm has 3.8 land parcels. This means that our farmers are wasting time and diesel driving between plots of land, increasing the stress and the risk of accidents. Young farmers will now have an opportunity to consolidate their holdings and increase efficiency. I am hopeful therefore that the measures that I have introduced will encourage more young people into farming and address the age profile imbalance in Irish farming.
296. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) may expect their REP scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7816/13]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2009 and received payments for the first three years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 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. Following this administrative check an Adjusted Plan was requested from the person named on 24 January 2013. When this adjusted plan is received the file will be processed further with the intention of an early resolution and payment in respect of the 2012 scheme year.
297. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for single farm payment. [7823/13]
View answerAn application under the 2012 Single Payment Scheme was received in this case on 6 November 2012. The closing date for submission of applications under the 2012 Scheme was 15 May 2012. However, following the submission of an appeal, it has now been possible to accept the application in view of the exceptional circumstances involved and payment is due to issue shortly. The person concerned is being advised of this positive outcome.
298. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is currently leasing Lough Foyle for the purposes of aquaculture activities from the Crown Estates Commission; the duration of the lease as well as the general terms and provisions of the lease; the amount of hectarage that it is currently leasing from the Crown Estates Commission in respect of aquaculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7824/13]
View answerMy Department is not currently involved in any lease in Lough Foyle from the Crown Estates Commission. It is, however, working with the Loughs Agency and other relevant Departments and agencies towards the conclusion of a management agreement for both the Foyle and Carlingford areas in order to facilitate the acquisition by the Loughs Agency of aquaculture licensing functions for these Loughs. The issues involved are complex and involve many stakeholders.
299. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made in terms of employment creation anticipated in the south east and other regions in 2013 for the agri-food and fisheries sectors under the Food Harvest 2020 plan. [7888/13]
View answerThe focus of the Food Harvest 2020 report is to develop the agriculture, food and fishing sector and to leverage the growth envisaged in output and exports in order to protect existing jobs and to create new ones. The 215 recommendations in FH 2020 are largely capacity building measures which are directed at supporting and improving the employment potential of this sector. As such they do not directly lend themselves to annualised job figures. Indeed, the FH2020 report recognised that the greatest scope for employment gains would flow from the increased output in the dairy and aquaculture sectors. These productivity and employment gains will be in medium term, as the abolition of milk quotas will not arise until 2015 and work is ongoing to ensure that aquaculture developments comply with national and EU environmental legislative guidelines.
In relation to assessing the direct and indirect employment potential in the agri-food and fishing sector which could flow from the projected 2020 growth envisaged by the Food Harvest report, a recent academic analysis by a working group, established by the Food Harvest implementation committee, suggested that if the FH2020 growth targets were achieved that around 25,000 additional direct and indirect jobs could be created by 2020.
As part of its work programme, the FH2020 Implementation Committee is actively monitoring the 17 inter-agency projects included by this Department and relevant agencies in the 2012 AJP and has also contributed to the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs which is expected to be published next month.
300. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers in County Meath; if he will provide a breakdown of same by size of holding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7941/13]
View answerThe Central Statistics Office’s Census of Agriculture 2010 showed that there was a total of 4,569 farms in Co Meath. The breakdown by size of holding is in the table.
Farms in Meath - Census of Agriculture 2010
Farm size (AAU) - hectares
|
< 5 |
5 - < 10 |
10 - < 20 |
20 - < 30 |
30 - < 50 |
50 - < 100 |
> = 100 |
Total |
|
71 |
731 |
978 |
651 |
890 |
881 |
367 |
4,569 |
301. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a rural environmental protection scheme 4 payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7967/13]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in December 2007 and has received payment for the first four years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 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 in this case and I expect payment in respect of the 2012 scheme year to issue shortly.
302. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount spent on outsourced security services in his Department; and if he will provide details of the companies providing these services. [8467/13]
View answerIn 2012 my Department spent a total of €344,556 on outsourced security services. The companies providing these services are listed in the table.
|
Name |
Address |
|
Alarm Control Centre |
Unit 9A, Parkwest Business Park, Dublin 12. |
|
Andrew Broderick Electrical |
Main Street, Portarlington, Co. Laois. |
|
AP Systems Ltd. |
37A Hebron Business Park, Co. Kilkenny. |
|
Castleguard Security Services |
Monaghan Road, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan. |
|
Daniel Hartnett |
Templebrien South, Clonakilty, Co. Cork. |
|
Dowling Security Systems Ltd. |
Sunville, St Josephs Road, Mallow, Co. Cork. |
|
F R S Recruitment |
Patrick Street, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. |
|
Fogarty Security Services. |
16 Church Street, Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary. |
|
G4S Monitoring IRE Ltd. |
2013 Orchard Avenue, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24 |
|
Group 4 Securicor |
51 Bracken Road, Sandyford Ind. Est. Dublin 18. |
|
HSG Zander |
Landscape House, Landscape Road, Churchtown, Co. Dublin. |
|
Karwall Ltd |
T/A Sentry Security, Wallslough, Waterford Road, Kilkenny. |
|
Lakeland Security Ltd. |
Ashe Road, Rathgowan, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. |
|
Link Security & Surveillance. |
Station Road, Portarlington, Co. Laois. |
|
Rapid Response Security Service. |
Durhamstown, Bohermeen, Navan, Co. Meath. |
|
Secure All Security |
Racecourse Business Park, Parkmore, Galway. |
|
Senaca EU |
Tougher Business Park, Newhall, Naas, Co. Kildare. |
|
Synergy Security Solutions |
Mayfield Business Park, Old Youghal Road, Cork. |
|
Techskills Resources Ltd. |
2 Merrion Place, Dublin 2. |
|
Western Facility Management |
Barroe, Sligo, Co. Sligo. |
303. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount spent on outsourced cleaning services in his Department; and if he will provide details of the companies providing these services. [8481/13]
View answerIn 2012 my Department spent a total of €972,165 on outsourced cleaning services. The companies providing these services are listed in the table.
|
Name |
Address |
|
ABC Cleaning |
40-41 Boherbee Tralee Co Kerry. |
|
Advance Cleaning Service |
Ahiohill, Co Cork. |
|
AP Corporate Personnel Ltd. |
T/A Allpro Services, Technology House, Parkmore, Co. Galway. |
|
Crystal Clean Services |
Ballymurphy, Carnmore, Co. Galway. |
|
David Norman |
Killincarrig, Delgany, Co. Wicklow. |
|
Emerald Facility Services |
Unit 20, Block 5, Prot Tunnel Business Park, Clonshaugh, Co. Dublin. |
|
Evans Cleaning Services Ltd. |
Derryhill, Ballydaly, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. |
|
Garvin Cleaning Ltd. |
Kincon, Ballina, Co. Mayo. |
|
Grosvenor Cleaning Services Ltd. |
64 Heather Road, Sandyford Ind. Estate, Dublin 18. |
|
HSG Zander Ltd. |
Landscape House, Landscape Road, Churchtown, Co. Dublin. |
|
ISS Facility Services Ltd. |
Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24. |
|
John Phair |
Gullane, Clonakilty, Co. Cork. |
|
Karmaco Ltd. |
T/A Woods Environmental Services, Unit 3, 78 Walkinstown Road, Dublin. |
|
McKechnie Cleaning Services Ltd. |
Little Island, Co. Cork. |
|
Moore Enterprises Ltd. |
E9 Calmont Park, Calmont Road, Ballymount. |
|
Noonan Services Group Ltd. |
Hilton House, unit 3, Swords Business Park. |
|
OCS One Complete Solutions Ltd |
Airways Industrial Estate, Dublin 17. |
|
Pat Roche Cleaning &Supplies Ltd |
Wexford Enterprise Centre, Strandfield Business Park, Co. Wexford. |
|
Roberts Contract Cleaners |
P.O. Box 545, Ballinlough, Cork. |
