Thursday, 9 May 2013

Written Answers Nos. 177-180

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Questions (177)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Question:

177. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 502 of 12 March 2013 (details supplied), the number who were seconded to both the Irish Horse Board and Horse Sport Ireland; his views on whether a total of at least four employees were seconded to IHB (details further supplied) and at least three employees were seconded to HSI; if the salaries of all the seconded Department employees were reimbursed; if he will show in the IHB and HSI accounts at his Department that the wages and all employment expenses such as pension, taxes and so on were fully reimbursed to his Department from both IHB and HSI. [21954/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In answer to the Deputy’s question, I can confirm that two Executive Officers are currently seconded from my Department since 1994 to Horse Sport Ireland Limited. The salaries in respect of the two individuals are recouped from Horse Sport Ireland Limited.

Inspectorate staff from my Department were seconded at various times between 1993 and 2008 to provide support services to IHB to assist in the development of the industry. My Department paid the salaries for these individuals during that time.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Appeals

Questions (178)

Jim Daly

Question:

178. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an agri-environment option scheme appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21959/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 2011 and has received full payment totalling €771.28 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. The person named was selected for a ground inspection which took place on 13th November 2012. During this inspection, issues of non compliance with the terms and conditions of the scheme were noted in relation the Riparian Margin action, which resulted in a penalty being imposed.

A letter issued to the person named informing her of this penalty and giving her the option to appeal the decision. The person named submitted an appeal to my Department and the original decision was overturned. Full payment totalling €3,397.48 has now issued to the person named in respect of the 2012 scheme year – 75% payment issued on 22nd April 2013 and the balancing 25% payment issued on 23rd April 2013.

Freedom of Information Requests

Questions (179)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

179. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the area aid claim that was made in respect of lands (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21980/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The position remains as I outlined in my reply to PQ 12/53199 on 28 November.

The person named had submitted a request under the Freedom of Information Act for the names of the people who have claimed Area Aid payments on the land referred to. Unfortunately this request had to be refused on the basis that third party information in relation to Single Payment/Disadvantaged Area scheme applications cannot be released under the Freedom of Information Act. The person was advised by letter of this on 20 September 2012 and also of the appeal procedure. An official of my Department had also, around that time, been in contact with the person named to further outline the position.

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Questions (180)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

180. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments in respect of a single farm payment and disadvantaged area payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22022/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An application under the 2012 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Area Schemes was received in my Department of 15 May 2012 in the name of the Reps of the Herdowner named. After processing, overclaims were disclosed in respect of two land parcels listed on the application form. Following correspondence with my Department, it was agreed to clarify the matter by means of a Rapid Field Visit to both parcels. The results of this visit will shortly be available and the application can then be further processed.

An application requesting the transfer of 38.50 Single Payment Entitlements from the Reps of the second person named to the first person named was submitted to the Transfer of Entitlements Section of my Department on 17 May 2010.

As the requested transfer was by way of inheritance, it was necessary to request the normal testamentary documentation. My Department has been in touch with the first person named on four occasions seeking the required documentation but the details have not yet been provided.

In addition, the first person named is currently not the registered herd owner. As entitlements can only be transferred to a registered herd owner, the first person named has been advised of the need to obtain a herd number or have the existing herd number transferred to his name. In this context he has been advised to contact the Galway District Veterinary Office.

As soon as the outstanding issues are resolved my Department will finalise the transfer and make the outstanding payments.