Written Answers Nos. 171-178
171. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will recieve their REP scheme 4 payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13166/13]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the first two 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 an on-farm inspection on 9 November 2010 my Department decided to reject the REPS Agri-environmental Plan of the person mentioned due to non- compliances associated with Measure 3, the requirement to Protect and Maintain Watercourses, Waterbodies and Wells. The person named appealed the decision to my Department on 24 February 2011 and the decision was upheld. The person named subsequently appealed the decision to the Agriculture Appeal's Office. Following an Oral Hearing on the 23 May 2012, the Agriculture Appeals Office decided to partially allow the appeal based on the establishment in May 2011 of new facilities. The decision provides for the imposition of a 100% penalty in respect of 2010, a partial payment in 2011 and full payment of entitlement under the scheme in 2012. The outstanding payments will issue shortly.
172. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an agri-environment options scheme payment 2012 will issue in respect of a person (detail supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13182/13]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1 September 2011 and full payment totalling €1,060.93 issued in respect of 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. Payments in respect of the 2012 Scheme year are subject to a similar administrative checking process which includes verification of capital investment through checks on receipts. These checks have been successfully completed and full payment totalling €3,575.11 issued in respect of the 2012 scheme year – 75% payment issued on 6 March and the balancing 25% payment issued on 7 March 2013.
173. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the appropriate assessment against pre-determined conservation objectives will take place within Galway Bay, Kinvara Bay, and Clarinbridge Bay, as such assessments are needed in order that additional oyster licences may be granted in view of the fact that these bays have been designated as special areas of conservation; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is enormous potential in this industry for export and value-added production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13215/13]
View answerGalway Bay is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 sites). The European Court of Justice declared in case C418/04 that, by failing to take all the measures necessary to comply with Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43 (Habitats Directive) in respect of authorisation of aquaculture programmes, Ireland had failed to fulfil its obligations under that Directive. In the negotiations to address the judgment a process was agreed with the European Commission which would lead to full compliance by Ireland with the relevant EU Directives. This process includes the following steps: a detailed data collection in 91 Bays/Estuaries; detailed analysis of raw data collected; setting of Conservation Objectives by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in respect of each site; carrying out Appropriate Assessments of each licence application/fishery plan against the detailed Conservation Objectives set, and determination of Licences/Fisheries on the basis of the Appropriate Assessment and other relevant factors.
My Department has been working closely with the Marine Institute, BIM, and NPWS to achieve full compliance through a multi-annual work programme. A key factor of this Work Programme is the identification of prioritised bays based on the number of aquaculture sites, the ready availability of scientific data and other factors. Conservation Objectives have been set for Galway Bay complex SAC and Inner Galway Bay SPA. The next step in the process is the carrying out of an Appropriate Assessment by the Marine Institute. This is being progressed taking account of the need to facilitate the use of scientific and other resources on a flexible basis across the full range of bays.
174. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on an appeal lodged with the single payment unit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in deciding this appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13232/13]
View answerMy Department has no record of receiving an appeal from the person named. This option, however, remains open and if the person concerned wishes to pursue it, the appeal (including its basis) can be lodged in writing with my Department (Government Offices, Portlaoise).
175. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of livestock recorded by his Department or his agents on all farms in receipt of a single farm payment of less than €50 per ha; and the total amount of livestock recorded by his Department or agents on all farms in receipt of a single farm payment of more than €1,000 per ha. [13279/13]
View answerThe data sought is being compiled and collated and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy immediately it is available.
176. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a REP scheme 2012 payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13286/13]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in January 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 the administrative check an area discrepancy was discovered between the Single Farm Payment Scheme application for 2012 and the REPS Agri-Environmental Plan which has resulted in the need for further clarification. This issue is currently being investigated with the intention of an early resolution and payment in respect of 2012.
177. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the initiatives his Department is taking to develop and expand the oyster and shellfish industries here, with particular emphasis on the potential to generate significant exports of value-added products, and also with regard to the income that this industry can provide to costal communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13291/13]
View answerThe seafood sector has very significant potential to grow revenues and employment in the coming years. I have on many previous occasions referred to my commitment to ensure that the maximum number of jobs are created and maintained in the seafood industry. Both Food Harvest 2020 and Action Plan for Jobs 2012 recognise that most of the potential for increased employment in the seafood industry is in the areas of processing and aquaculture. Food Harvest 2020 aims to increase employment in the seafood sector as a whole, from the present approximately 11,000 to 14,000 by 2020 and to increase turnover from €700 million to €1 billion. The two targets are part of the same ambition to grow the seafood industry and its contribution to our economy. The EU co-funded Seafood Development Programme 2007-2013 provides a wide range of supports for the development of the seafood industry. These measures are intended to assist the industry in achieving the potential identified in Food Harvest 2020.
An Bord Iascaigh Mhara will shortly be advertising a call for applications under the Commercial Aquaculture Development Scheme and the Seafood Processing Business Investment Scheme. Grants of up to 40% will be available in 2013 under the aquaculture scheme to operators in either the shellfish or whitefish sectors of the aquaculture industry to develop and sustainably grow their operations. The scheme is subject to certain restrictions on operators located in Natura 2000 protected sites and operators in the salmon farming sector. I have made available some €2.5 million for this scheme in 2013. The processing sector has been recognised as a high growth area of the seafood industry. CSO figures show that seafood exports were valued at €495 million in 2012, an increase of 18% over 2011. Grants of up to 30% will be available in 2013 under the processing scheme to seafood processing companies seeking to modernise and grow their businesses through investments in value added production. This is a premium of 10% over that available under the scheme to primary processors and will target funds at those firms maximising the value of raw material, including wild and farmed shellfish. I have made available some €2.5 million for this scheme in 2013.
178. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any complaints have been lodged with his Department in the past two years in relation to the conduct of a society (details supplied); the action taken on foot of such complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13306/13]
View answerMatters between an organisation approved to maintain a studbook under Commission Decision 92/353/EEC and my Department are confidential and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment on individual cases.
