Written Answers Nos. 577-596
577. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a forestry payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23899/13]
View answerFollowing a recent inspection, the Forest Service inspector has reported that the site is not up to the required standard and that further works are needed on the site. The Forest Service will issue a letter to the applicant detailing the works that must be carried out. These works must be completed and the plantation brought up to the required standard before further payments can be made.
578. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that livestock export is vital at present, if the live export to Libya is still open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23973/13]
View answerThe Libyan market remains open to Irish male cattle under 24 months and two shipments have been exported so far this year.
Continued trade with Libya is a commercial matter, but there is no impediment as regards animal health or transport requirements.
579. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will investigate illegal fishing at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24008/13]
View answerControl of the fishing within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone is the responsibility of the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, operational issues concerning sea fisheries control are a matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. I have sent the question to the SFPA who will respond directly to the Deputy.
580. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the single farm payment rates were calculated for the period 2007 to 2013; and the formulae that were used for each of the following sectors, dairy, beef, sheep and arable. [24040/13]
View answerGenerally, the Single Payment Scheme is applicable to farmers who actively farmed during all or any of the three reference years 2000, 2001, and 2002, who were paid Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid payments in one or more of those years and for whom Single Payment entitlements were therefore established. In order to remain eligible, they, or their successors, must continue to farm.
Other farmers, including new entrants to farming since the reference period, are also eligible for the Single Payment Scheme where they have received entitlements from the National Reserve or by way of a transfer. The Scheme also includes payment to dairy farmers who benefited from the decoupled Dairy Premium in 2005 and includes compensation for growers of Sugar Beet during the 2001, 2002 and 2004 reference period.
Rates of entitlement per hectare are thus calculated on an individual farmer basis, reflecting the principles outlined above.
Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS), the Afforestation Premium Scheme and farm support schemes, such as the On-Farm Investment, are not included in the Single Payment.
581. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1072 of 16 April 2013, if he will provide a breakdown of figures in tabular form by sector for the analysis done on a county or regional basis regarding agricultural productivity in each of the following sections, dairy, sheep, beef and arable. [24041/13]
View answerThe analysis of stocking density presented in my reply to PQ 17622 of 16 April was carried out using a national modelling database based on 2010 SPS payments. It is not currently available on a sectoral or regional basis.
582. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider a TAMS type stream of funding for slurry storage on tillage lands where tanks would be in a position to receive imported slurry and use this valuable material to replenish the organic matter and trace elements in continuous tillage grounds. [24080/13]
View answerI have no plans at present to provide grant-aid for the construction of slurry storage on tillage lands.
583. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that it is becoming evident that the fodder crisis will continue not just into the summer but that it will heighten and worsen during next winter, his plans to continue bringing fodder into the country to help farmers build up a reserve to take them through another winter and in order to keep and sustain our farms and stock during this crisis; the other countries besides England and France in which he is looking for fodder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24205/13]
View answerI announced on 10 May an extension of the imported fodder transport scheme for a further two weeks and the doubling of the fund to €2m.
Following consultation with Met Eireann, Co Ops, the farming organisations, Teagasc and the advice of officials working on the ground, the decision was taken to allow a further two weeks for fodder to be imported into the country with a doubling of the transport subsidy fund. Fodder, eligible under the scheme and delivered into the country will be covered up to next Friday 24 May. I have also decided, as an exceptional measure, that any definite purchases that have been placed by that date, but which will be delivered during the following week, will be included under the scheme.
To date some 2,000 loads of imported fodder, amounting to about 30,000 tonnes, have benefited from my Department’s contribution to these transport costs. My Department will continue to monitor the situation on a day by day basis. This remains a very challenging situation for farmers and the extension to 24 May will allow both farmers and Co Ops to have some certainty around the supply of fodder over the coming weeks.
It is also important that while continuing to focus on the emergency fodder position in the short term, farmers should also focus on growing and conserving fodder for next winter’s needs. We should be maximising production in the coming period and I have asked Teagasc to prioritise this policy in their advisory campaigns over the summer months.
It is clear that the main cut of silage will be delayed this year and as a consequence we need to look at the potential for the growing of additional fodder later into the season. In this regard I have also raised a number of specific issues within the Nitrates regulations with my colleague Minister Hogan, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with a view to ensuring we maximise the opportunity for fodder production this year.
The Animal Welfare Hotline which I established remains open for those with emergency situations or who need information about where to source fodder: 1850 21 19 90 (Low-call). The majority of calls received are enquiring about fodder availability and these callers are being referred to Co-ops in their respective areas. Those farmers with animal welfare issues (i.e. animals starving) are being referred to the DVOs where there are systems in place to deal with them on a case by case basis.
Further information on the scheme is available from the Department website. http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/animalhealthwelfare/fodderassistanceapril2013/.
584. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare has not received headage payments since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24242/13]
View answerThe person named is one of a number of applicants under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, whose cases were impacted by the requirement that their holdings must have achieved a minimum stocking density in 2011 of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare and who applied for and were refused derogation in this regard.
The applicant subsequently availed of the option to appeal to the independently chaired DAS Appeals Committee; however, the appeal was unsuccessful and the appellant was notified accordingly by letter dated 9 January 2013.
As advised in that letter, it is now open to the person named to pursue the matter with the Office of the Ombudsman.
585. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 213 of 2 May 2013, if his Department will send out the necessary documentation which will allow the person (details supplied) in County Limerick to lodge an appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24244/13]
View answerAs notified in PQ 21044 of 2 May 2013, the above named applicant requested a review of a Department decision in relation to a penalty imposed on the applicant’s 2012 Direct Payments following inspection. The outcome of the review, which was to uphold the original decision, was notified by letter dated 5 October 2012. The applicant was, at that time, advised of the right to appeal the outcome of the review to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within three months of the date of the review letter. No appeal was lodged.
Where the Director of Agriculture Appeals considers there are exceptional circumstances that lead to submission outside the specified three-month timeframe, an appeal may be accepted. If the applicant believes that exceptional circumstances apply in this case, it is open to him to write to the Director of the Agriculture Appeals Office outlining those circumstances, enclosing any relevant documentation.
The Agriculture Appeals Office is located at Kilminchy Court, Dublin Road, Portlaoise and can be contacted by telephone on (057) 866 7167.
586. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has yet to receive an area-based payment; if he will expedite the claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24273/13]
View answerUnder the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, the holdings of eligible applicants were required to have met a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units for a retention period of six consecutive months, in addition to maintaining an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the twelve months of the scheme year. As the applicant has not as yet demonstrated that the holding satisfies the scheme minimum stocking density requirements, as of now, no payment is due in respect of the 2012 Scheme.
587. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the allocation of Departmental spend year to date in east Wicklow on badger culling for the purposes of eradicating bovine TB in comparison to the same period in east Wicklow in 2012; and if he will provide comparative data for national spending for this purpose. [24302/13]
View answerThe badger removal programme is only one element of a very comprehensive tuberculosis eradication programme but this element has contributed very significantly to the improvement in the Bovine TB situation in Ireland in recent years. This is evidenced by the fact that cattle herd incidence has fallen from 7.5% in 2000 to 4.1% in 2012 and the number of TB reactors has declined from 40,000 to 18,500 during the same period. This is the lowest recorded since the commencement of the TB eradication programme in the 1950s. The low incidence of TB over the past 4 years in particular is encouraging and indicates that the incidence has moved permanently to a new low level. The incidence of TB in 2013 is running at about 10% below the levels recorded in 2012.
With regard to East Wicklow, an enhanced wildlife programme was introduced in that area in 2011 due to higher than average levels of TB in the area. In particular, additional staffing resources were assigned to the regional office to improve delivery of the programme. Information on expenditure on the badger removal programme is not kept in a format which would enable me to provide details of the cost of the programme in East Wicklow. However, there has been a significant improvement in the delivery of the programme since 2010 as evidenced by the fact that the area subject to badger culling increased from 27% in 2010 to 34% in 2012 and the number of badgers removed increased from 22 to 265 in the same period. In addition, notwithstanding that research has shown that there can be a time lag of a number of years between the commencement of a badger removal programme and an evident reduction in herd incidence, herd incidence in East Wicklow has fallen by 38% from 6.9% in April 2011 to 4.3% in April 2013.
I am satisfied that the programme is being implemented effectively in East Wicklow and I am hopeful that we will continue to see a reduction in the incidence of TB in the area into the future.
588. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in having the vesting order completed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if same will be expedited immediately in view of the fact that this person is in financial difficulty and wishes to sell some of his land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24340/13]
View answerMy Department is aware of the situation and is actively working to complete the Vesting Order where one title issue still has to be resolved. In this case, the re-arrangement involves 67 plots and 14 exchange agreements all of which are inter-dependent on each other for registration purposes. Unfortunately no one individual can be vested in isolation. Every effort is being made to complete this case as soon as possible.
589. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of agricultural inspectors and assistant agricultural inspectors employed by the Department at present; the number of vacancies to be filled at present; the number of new vacancies likely to arise at each grade before the end of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24370/13]
View answerAt present my Department employs 83 Agricultural Inspectors and 104 Assistant Agricultural Inspectors. There are currently 7 entry level vacancies at Assistant Agricultural Inspector.
590. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position in relation to an agri-environment option scheme 2 application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; when payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24373/13]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2011.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. The person named was also selected for a ground inspection which took place on 11th May 2012. During this inspection, areas of non-compliance with the terms and condition of the scheme were noted in relation to the Water Trough Installation action which resulted in items being deemed ineligible for reimbursement. A letter issued to the person named on 11th June 2012 informing him of these non compliances and set out his appeal options. An appeal was received by my Department and following a review of the file, the decision was made to disallow the appeal. On the 11th February 2013 a letter issued to the person named informing him of this and giving him the option of appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office. To date, no appeal has been received in the Agriculture Appeals Office. My Department is processing the application for payment based on the findings found on Inspection and payment for the 2011 scheme year will issue shortly.
591. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will set out in tabular form the names of all State-owned or substantially State-funded organisations under his Department whose latest accounts laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas are more than one year old - that is, relating to a period ending before May 2012; and those of all such organisations whose latest accounts are more than two years old - that is, relating to a period ending before May 2011. [25015/13]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is outlined below.
State Body – Annual Reports and Accounts
Non-Commercial Bodies
|
- |
2010 |
2011 |
|
Aqua licensing Appeals Board |
Awaiting Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General sign off
|
Awaiting Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General sign off
|
|
Bord Bia |
November 2011 |
December 2012 |
|
Bord Iascaigh Mhara |
15 November 2011 |
21 February 2013 |
|
Marine Institute |
4 May 2012 |
Awaiting Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General sign off |
|
National Milk Agency |
10 October 2011 |
20 February 2013* |
|
Sea Fisheries Protection Agency |
11 April 2012 |
Awaiting Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General sign off |
|
Teagasc |
October 2011 |
September 2012 |
|
Veterinary Council of Ireland |
There is no statutory requirement, in the case of the Veterinary Council, to lay accounts before the Oireachtas. |
There is no statutory requirement, in the case of the Veterinary Council, to lay accounts before the Oireachtas. |
Commercial Bodies
|
- |
2010 |
2011 |
|
Bord na gCon |
23 December 2011 |
The accounts will be laid before the Oireachtas shortly. |
|
Coillte |
3 May 2011 |
31 July 2012 |
|
Horse Racing Ireland |
25 October 2011 |
18 December 2012 |
|
Irish National Stud |
8 August 2011 |
22 June 2012 |
*The National Milk Agency was the subject of a critical review in 2012.
592. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 has been refused further financial assistance; if this decision is contrary to national policy under the leaving and aftercare services; and if he will ensure that this decision is reviewed in view of the stated responsibility of the Health Service Executive in such instances to support such persons until the completion of the education they are engaged in, which extends a person's eligibility for support beyond 21 years up to 23 years and the detrimental impact that this decision will have on this person in view of their academic achievement to date and plans to continue this to degree level. [24060/13]
View answerI have requested the information from the HSE and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.
593. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline the funding position regarding Foróige Youth Services in the context of the upcoming Budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23692/13]
View answerThe Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of some €53.498m is available in 2013 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2 and Local Drugs Task Force Projects. These funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 400,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 paid staff and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country.
In 2013, my Department's Youth Affairs Unit will provide total funding to Foróige of €5.93 million.
|
Programme |
Amount in 2013 |
|
Youth Service Grant Scheme |
€2,651,154 |
|
Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund (1 & 2) |
€1,195,283 |
|
Special Project for Youth |
€2,083,572 |
|
Total |
€5,930,009 |
This total does not include local youth clubs grants, funded by my Department, but allocated to local clubs by; and at the discretion of local VECs.
This total does not include funding provided to Foróige with respect to Garda youth diversion projects or funding from other state agencies such as the HSE.
The savings required under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure in respect of 2013 amounted to €5.393m which equated to almost a 10% reduction on 2012 funding available for the provision of youth services. In 2014 the savings required in the youth budget under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure amount to €2.976m which entails a 5% cut across most schemes and programmes and a 10% cut on the Youth Service Grant Scheme, under which Foróige receives funding as a national organisation.
Having regard to the savings requirements identified in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure my Department has tried to ensure that, in the determination process for the allocations, the front line youth services, particularly those for the most vulnerable young people are protected as far as is possible from the impact of any necessary reductions in funding.
My Department has tried to be as equitable as possible in achieving these savings. In considering how best to manage within the reduced budgets available, organisations are being asked to consider the scope for reducing administration costs and overheads, if this is at all possible, in order to maintain the front line youth services for young people. I have met, and continue to meet with, many youth organisations and groups to try and see how we can work together to minimise the impact of these necessary savings in order to ensure that the provision of quality youth services to young people is sustained in these challenging times.
A comprehensive Value for Money and Policy Review of youth funding has been commenced in my Department and it is anticipated that the findings of this report will inform the future development of youth programmes and services.
My Department is developing a new youth policy framework for publication later this year. The new youth policy framework will aim to enhance the provision of youth services and activities and it will, inter alia, promote co-ordination between government departments and youth sector organisations with a view to maximising the effectiveness of the State funding available to support services for young people in future years.
594. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a detailed update on the roll out of the 116000 missing children hotline; when this hotline will be fully operational; the publicity strategy in place to publicise this facility; if she will give a commitment to future funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23785/13]
View answerThe 116000 Missing Children Hotline is operated by the ISPCC in liaison with a cross-sectoral Project Team, chaired by my Department.
The ISPCC has been successful in securing EU Daphne funding to support the establishment of the line. The ISPCC also submitted an application for funding to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to cover the establishment and running of the Hotline. This application has been approved for 2012 and 2013. Future applications for running costs will be considered in the context of the annual budget estimates process.
I am delighted to confirm that the phased implementation of the service, which commenced in December 2012, operating on a reduced hours pilot basis, has now become a full-time 24/7 service since Monday the 22nd of April 2013.
In addition I can confirm that:
- Memoranda of understanding between the ISPCC and the HSE, my Department and the Gardaí, respectively were finalised in advance of the commencement of the pilot in December 2012.
- The funding received from both the EU Daphne fund and from my Department includes, in the establishment costs, the national promotion and advertisement of this Hotline service.
- The 116000 Missing Children Hotline service will be officially launched in Ireland on the 5th of June 2013.
The promotion of the Hotline has been ongoing since the service opened in 2012. There have been numerous press releases issued by the DCYA and the ISPCC, the 116 000 Missing Children Hotline has been covered in the print (9 articles) and broadcast (6 radio stations) media since opening in May 2012. There has also been an on- going website and social media presence utilising ISPCC, Facebook and Twitter to highlight the service as well as information on missing children.
ISPCC staff and volunteers have worked to disseminate posters in local areas and posters have been distributed nationally by the Gardaí.
The Missing Children Hotline will be officially launched on the 5th of June 2013. Following this launch the awareness campaign for the service will be escalated nationally.
595. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will respond to concerns regarding funding challenges that are addressed in a submission (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23803/13]
View answerThe Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of some €53.498m is available in 2013 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2 and Local Drugs Task Force Projects. These funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 400,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 paid staff and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country.
In 2013, my Department's Youth Affairs Unit will provide total funding to Foróige of €5.93 million.
|
Programme |
Amount in 2013 |
|
Youth Service Grant Scheme |
€2,651,154 |
|
Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund (1 & 2) |
€1,195,283 |
|
Special Project for Youth |
€2,083,572 |
|
Total |
€5,930,009 |
This total does not include local youth clubs grants, funded by my Department, but allocated to local clubs by; and at the discretion of local VECs.
This total does not include funding provided to Foróige with respect to Garda youth diversion projects or funding from other state agencies such as the HSE.
The savings required under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure in respect of 2013 amounted to €5.393m which equated to almost a 10% reduction on 2012 funding available for the provision of youth services. In 2014 the savings required in the youth budget under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure amount to €2.976m which entails a 5% cut across most schemes and programmes and a 10% cut on the Youth Service Grant Scheme, under which Foróige receives funding as a national organisation.
Having regard to the savings requirements identified in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure my Department has tried to ensure that, in the determination process for the allocations, the front line youth services, particularly those for the most vulnerable young people are protected as far as is possible from the impact of any necessary reductions in funding.
My Department has tried to be as equitable as possible in achieving these savings. In considering how best to manage within the reduced budgets available, organisations are being asked to consider the scope for reducing administration costs and overheads, if this is at all possible, in order to maintain the front line youth services for young people. I have met, and continue to meet with, many youth organisations and groups to try and see how we can work together to minimise the impact of these necessary savings in order to ensure that the provision of quality youth services to young people is sustained in these challenging times.
In 2011, Foróige, following an internal review of the organisation’s wide range of provision for young people, reprioritised its areas of youth provision and programmes. This reprioritisation, which was proposed to my Department, enabled Foróige to strengthen their Big Brother Big Sister (BBBS) Programme nationally. Foróige decided, with the permission of my Department, to reallocate the funding provided by my Department from their Youth Information services to the Big Brother Big Sister Programme. Additional funding was also provided by my Department to Foróige for the Big Brother Big Sister Programme in 2012 and 2013. While I fully appreciate the value of the Big Brother Big Sister Programme and the challenges facing it in the current fiscal climate, given the savings required within my Department's budget under the CRE, I do not envisage any further scope for the provision of any further increase on the funding already provided to Foróige.
A comprehensive Value for Money and Policy Review of youth funding has been commenced in my Department and it is anticipated that the findings of this report will inform the future development of youth programmes and services.
My Department is developing a new youth policy framework for publication later this year. The new youth policy framework will aim to enhance the provision of youth services and activities and it will, inter alia, promote co-ordination between government departments and youth sector organisations with a view to maximising the effectiveness of the State funding available to support services for young people in future years.
596. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she expects the new eight bed unit in Oberstown, County Dublin, to be completed and when the places will begin to be used. [23868/13]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ No. 246 of 16 May 2013.
By way of further information on this matter, the physical layout at present of the Oberstown campus comprises three detention units in Oberstown Boys School, one detention unit in Oberstown Girls School and three detention units in Trinity House School. One of the three detention units in Trinity House School is currently not in use due to staffing issues. As outlined in my reply to PQ No. 246, my Department is working closely with the Oberstown Board of Management to resolve this issue and bring this detention unit back into operation at the earliest possible date.
The Deputy may also be aware that a capital project is currently underway to increase the capacity of the Oberstown campus. The main objective of this project is to meet the Programme for Government commitment to end the practice of detaining children in St Patrick's Institution. The tender process for the award of a contract for the project is currently ongoing. The current projected timeline estimate from the OPW indicates that the first new residential units, to provide sufficient capacity to end the practice of sending 17 year old boys to St. Patrick's Institution, will be available for use by mid 2014.
