Written Answers Nos. 509-518
509. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of mobile telephones in use by him, Ministers of State and politically appointed staff; the total costs of the mobile telephones since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12433/13]
View answerDetails of the mobile phones currently in use by the Minister, the former Minister of State in my Department and by politically appointed staff are set out in the table. The table also includes the total costs of the mobile phones since March 2011.
|
Costs including VAT. |
The Minister |
The Minister of State |
Politically appointed staff. |
|
Number of mobile phones |
2 |
1 |
9 |
|
Costs |
€3,318.19 |
€2,428.95 |
€ 10,349.67 |
510. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of drivers of each vehicle assigned to him and Ministers of State in his Department since March 2011; the mileage and other costs claimed in respect of each since March 2011; the overall yearly costs of ministerial cars in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12451/13]
View answerThe amounts spent by my Department in respect of the drivers of the private cars of the Ministers of State and I from 10 March 2011 to date and the mileage expenses paid are set out in the table.
|
Salary related Costs of the Drivers |
Travel & Subsistence of Minister’s Drivers |
Travel & Subsistence of Minister of State’s Drivers |
Mileage Costs of the Minister |
Mileage Costs of Minister of State |
|
€329,029.79 |
€36,161.82 |
€13,415.12 |
€36,098.95 |
€31,152.57 |
The costs associated with the Ministers of State’s cars in 2010 amounted to €214,131.84, including severance and redundancy payments made to four civilian drivers.
The system for the provision of transport for Ministers changed from the use of official to private cars on the appointment of the Government in March 2011. The average annual cost of providing a state car under the previous administration in 2010 was €280,000.
511. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of credit cards issued to staff and Ministers in his Department; the total costs of each card since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12470/13]
View answerThere were 25 Department credit cards used by staff in my Department since 1 March 2011 and the total expenditure on each is listed in the table.
Card numbers 1 and 19 were used for the purchase of publications for the Department’s library and the remainder were used mainly in respect of approved foreign travel and subsistence expenses. Card numbers 1, 5, 6, 12, 14 and 18 were cancelled during this time frame and are no longer in use.
|
Card No |
Expenditure |
Card No |
Expenditure |
Card No |
Expenditure |
Card No |
Expenditure |
|
1 |
€122,367.75 |
8 |
€1,263.49 |
15 |
€16,655.72 |
22 |
€1,953.37 |
|
2 |
€1,374.88 |
9 |
€5,411.77 |
16 |
€7,449.03 |
23 |
€1,029.18 |
|
3 |
€2,210.00 |
10 |
€11,642.68 |
17 |
€22,897.97 |
24 |
€848.16 |
|
4 |
€7,547.52 |
11 |
€0.00 |
18 |
€4,108.84 |
25 |
€0.00 |
|
5 |
€2,711.62 |
12 |
€0.00 |
19 |
€149,731.74 |
||
|
6 |
€0.00 |
13 |
€10,819.72 |
20 |
€7,472.83 |
||
|
7 |
€1,598.00 |
14 |
€0.00 |
21 |
€1,138.15 |
512. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who planted land with forestry after 2006 will continue to receive the single farm payment for this land post 2014; the amount of forested land claimed for single payment in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12528/13]
View answerUnder the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009, land, which was afforested from 2009, is eligible to activate payment entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme and to benefit from payment provided that the following criteria are met by applicants:
- The land to be afforested was declared under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme (SPS).
- The applicant who declared that land was paid under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme and the land was eligible to draw down an SPS payment
- The afforested land meets all the requirements of the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme, FEPS or the Native Woodland Establishment Scheme.
- Eligible forestry parcels that are declared on SPS applications to activate entitlements will also be subject to cross-compliance requirements.
The proposals for the Reform of Common Agricultural Policy published by the EU Commission provide for the continuation of the existing provisions in relation to the eligibility of afforested land under the Basic Aid Scheme. The Deputy will be aware that negotiations are ongoing on these proposals and they must be adopted by both the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers before that can enter into force.
The area of eligible afforested land declared by farmers under the 2012 Scheme was 12,380 hectares.
513. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for agri-environment options scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12533/13]
View answerAn application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 7 December 2012.
The initial processing of the applications has been completed and acknowledgement letters have issued to all applicants. The detailed actions listed in each application are currently being recorded and all applications will be ranked and selected according to the predetermined selection criteria. This process is expected to take a number of weeks and letters will issue to all applicants informing them of the outcome of the selection process in due course. In the event that any queries arise on the application of the person named during this process officials in my Department will be in direct contact with the person named.
514. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a dhéanfar íocaíocht faoi scéim na limistéar faoi mhíbhuntáiste, 2012 le duine (sonraí leis seo); cén fáth go bhfuil moill leis an íocaíocht seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [12540/13]
View answerFaoi Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste 2012, ní mór do ghabháltais a bheadh ag iarratasóirí incháilithe íos-cheanglais dlús-stoic de 0.15 aonad beostoic ar feadh tréimhse coinneála sé mhí as a chéile a chomhlíonadh, chomh maith le meánmhéid bliantúil de 0.15 aonad beostoic a choimeád, arna ríomh thar an dá mhí dhéag de bhliain na scéime. De bharr nach bhfuil sé léirithe fós ag an iarratasóir go sásaíonn an gabháltas íos-cheanglais dlús-stoic na scéime faoi láthair, níl aon íocaíocht dlite i ndáil le Scéim 2012.
515. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a dhéanfar íocaíocht faoi scéim na limistéar faoi mhíbhuntáiste, 2012 le duine (sonraí leis seo); cén fáth go bhfuil moill leis an íocaíocht seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [12541/13]
View answerFaoi Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste 2012 ní mór do ghabháltais iarratasóirí incháilithe íos-cheanglais dlús-stoic de 0.15 aonad beostoic ar feadh tréimhse coinneála sé mhí as a chéile a chomhlíonadh, chomh maith le meánmhéid bliantúil de 0.15 aonad beostoic a choimeád, arna ríomh thar an dá mhí dhéag de bhliain na scéime. De bharr nach bhfuil sé léirithe fós ag an iarratasóir go sásaíonn an gabháltas íos-cheanglais dlús-stoic na scéime faoi láthair, níl aon íocaíocht dlite i ndáil le Scéim 2012.
516. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when final payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary under the 2011 dairy efficiency programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12549/13]
View answerPayment in respect of the 2011 Dairy Efficiency Programme issued on 29 February 2012, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
517. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the ice plant in Dingle, County Kerry, if a group of persons were to come together to open the ice plant, if his Department will agree to the following, that day to day cost and maintenance of the plant would be borne by the persons operating the plant, but that if new equipment was needed to be installed that his Department would foot this bill; if his Department will allow the diversification of the use of the plant, that is, for other harbour-fish related issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12582/13]
View answerUntil recently, BIM operated a network of ice plants in ports and harbours around the Irish coast, including Dingle, supplying bulk ice to operators in the seafood industry. However, the Board of BIM decided to cease the operation of these plants by the end of 2012. BIM is an independent statutory body and policy in relation to operational matters, such as this, is a matter for BIM itself.
I am advised that the Dingle ice plant was closed in September 2011. BIM then offered the plant by tender as a going concern in January 2012, but no tenders were received by the closing date.
In relation to the building itself I wish to advise that the ice plant building at Dingle Fishery Harbour Centre was designed, constructed and located specifically for the production of ice and is not suited to alternative uses.
518. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an agri-environment options scheme 1 capital payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12604/13]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2010 and full payments totalling €570.85 and €3,555.42 issued in respect of 2010 and 2011 respectively.
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. Payments in respect of the 2012 scheme year are subject to a similar administrative checking process. These checks have been successfully completed and full payment totalling €3,553.87 has now issued to the person named.
