Written Answers Nos. 557-564
557. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the new agri-environment option scheme 3 nationally; the number of applications that have been received up to the end of December 2012; the number that were successful; when the successful applicants will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22923/13]
View answerDespite the challenging budgetary constraints facing my Department, last year I allocated €20 million annually to fund the agri-environment options scheme, AEOS, and on foot of this I announced the re-opening of the scheme. I decided on a maximum payment of €4,000 per annum for individual applicants which, on the basis of previous experience in implementing the scheme, indicates that approximately 6,000 new participants can be accepted into the scheme.
A total of 9,689 applications have been received by my Department and I expect that the letters approving participation will issue to the successful applicants very shortly. All applicants should note that they should not undertake any actions listed in their application until approved for participation in the scheme as actions undertaken or expense incurred prior to formal approval will not be eligible for reimbursement.
558. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers from County Kerry who have applied for the new agri-environment option scheme 3 up to 31 December 2012; the number that have been successful; when payments for the scheme will be made to these farmers in view of the fact that due to present crisis regarding fodder shortage and continuation of adverse weather in County Kerry and subsequent poor grass growth and difficulties in obtaining credits these payments are urgently needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22930/13]
View answerA total of 9,689 applications have been received by my Department under the agri-environment options scheme, AEOS 3,815 of which were received from applicants in Co. Kerry. I expect that approval letters for participation in the scheme will issue very shortly to approximately 6,000 of the applicants. AEOS is a measure under the current rural development programme 2007-13, and is subject to EU regulations which require detailed administrative checks as well as a certain level of on-farm inspections to be completed before any payments can issue. I expect that payments will commence towards the end of the year when the administrative checks have been completed. Applicants should note that they should not undertake any actions listed in their application until approved for participation in the scheme as actions undertaken or expense incurred prior to formal approval will not be eligible for reimbursement.
559. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will examine a REP scheme application due for payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [22934/13]
View answerThe person named joined REPS 4 in May 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 2012 administrative check, queries arose in relation to a change of ownership of the lands declared under REPS 4 and the proposed retention of some lands amounting for afforestation. These issues are currently being examined by my officials and a decision will shortly be made and conveyed directly to the person named.
560. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite a disadvantaged area scheme appeal in respect of a person (details suppied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23000/13]
View answerThe person named is one of a number of applicants under the 2012 disadvantaged areas scheme, whose cases are impacted by the requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in 2011. My Department wrote to all concerned applicants in August 2012 giving them the opportunity to seek derogation from this requirement. However, to date, my Department has no record of receiving an application for derogation in this instance and therefore the case could not be progressed. My Department will now make direct contact with the person named regarding this matter.
561. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of entitlements in the national reserve at present; if there is going to be any scheme in 2013 to allocate entitlements to farmers from the reserve in 2013; if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23001/13]
View answerAs part of the implementation of the single payment scheme in 2005, a linear cut of 1.82% was applied to all entitlements to fund the national reserve catering for a range of categories including new entrants to farming. This resulted in €22.6 million being allocated in 2005. From 2006 onwards, the national reserve was replenished only from unused expired entitlements which reverted to the fund. From 2008 onwards, the national reserve catered only for land leased out to a third party during the reference period and new entrants to farming. In 2012, the national reserve catered for new entrants to farming only.
Over the period 2005 to 2012, entitlements to the value of approximately €39.7 million have been allocated to 18,834 farmers from the national reserve. The reserve is funded only from unused entitlements, and the value of unused funds has been decreasing over recent years. The amount of unused funds for the 2013 scheme year will not be known until the 2013 applications are processed and paid later this year. It is not therefore possible to operate a 2013 or 2014 national reserve.
Under the new CAP regime, there will be a new national reserve in 2015 which can cater for farmers who commenced their agricultural activity within the previous five years. It is likely that farmers who commenced farming after May 2011 will be catered for in Ireland. The CAP reform proposals also include a young farmers scheme which makes provision for a top up to the value of entitlements held by qualifying young farmers. This top up is paid annually for a period of up to five years following commencement of their farming activity.
562. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form the number of farmers who have had penalties imposed on their payments by his Department for failure to cut rushes in 2012 and to date in 2013; if his Department has taken into consideration the water logging of the affected land and its impact on the farmers' ability to access the land with machinery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23005/13]
View answerMy Department, in the context of delivering the single payment schemes, disadvantaged areas scheme and other area related schemes, is required to carry out a programme of annual inspections. This inspection regime covers both the eligibility of land declared to drawn down payments and also cross compliance aspects, to ensure adherence with EU regulatory requirements in the areas of public, animal and plant health, environment and animal welfare.
In order to be eligible under the single payment scheme and other area based schemes, an applicant must ensure that all agricultural land is maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition, GAEC. Issues relating to control of rushes must, therefore, be seen in this overall context. Farmers can keep grassland in GAEC by conducting an agricultural activity on it, such as grazing, harvesting forage crops, or by topping. Grasslands continue to be eligible where it is evident that the stocking rate on the land is sufficient and, for example, keeps rushes under control and avoids their proliferation. In such situations, the reality is there may not be a necessity to cut rushes. However, where a farmer cuts rushes as part of management practice, with the exception of certain designated lands, there are no restrictions on when this is done, enabling the task to be carried out at any time throughout the year once conditions are suitable.
I am acutely aware of the weather related difficulties being experienced by farmers and of their concern in respect of their ability to meet the various compliance requirements. When conducting inspections, my Department’s personnel take prevailing weather conditions into account. For example, where the practice is to cut rushes and it has not been possible to top them in the current year, inspectors will take a broader assessment including whether there is evidence that they have been cut in previous years.
Where land is deemed ineligible, this, in the main, is a result of the inclusion of ineligible areas or features and where it is not being used for an agricultural purpose. In cases where land with rushes is rejected, it will be seen that this is due to the broader issue of insufficient agricultural activity being undertaken on it to keep it in GAEC. My Department therefore does not maintain records specifically on the presence of rushes since the issue has to be seen in the broader context.
563. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite a forestry grant payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23037/13]
View answerThis applicant’s annual forestry premium for 2013 was paid on 10 May 2013. Therefore there are currently no outstanding grants or premiums.
564. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding single farm payments that were claimed by a person as an individual in 2011 but the farming set up is now run by them through a limited company; if the company will be able to claim the payments originally activated by the person should the 2011 activation measure, as part of the reference year proposals come to fruition under the new Common Agricultural Policy proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23039/13]
View answerThe negotiations on reforms to the CAP are still under way and it is not possible to say with any certainty what the final outcome will be, nor what precise impact the reform will have on individual farmers. The Commission’s proposal is that entitlements will be based on hectares declared in 2014 but the farmer must have activated one entitlement in 2011. The approach agreed by the Council gives member states the option of basing entitlements on hectares declared either in 2012, 2013 or 2014 and the 2011 activation clause is made optional for member states and extended to 2010. The European Parliament view is close to that of the EU Commission. These three different positions are currently the subject of negotiations between the three institutions and it is too early to say what the final outcome may be.
