Wednesday, 22 May 2013

Written Answers Nos. 236-243

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Questions (236)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

236. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the agri-environment options scheme, 9,500 farmers applied before the closing date of November 2012, the timeframe these applications will be finalised in view of the fact that already their incomes have been drastically reduced since the REP scheme plan finished; if it is now more vital than ever that these applicants become eligible for the AEOS 3 scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24758/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Despite 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.

Agriculture Schemes Penalties

Questions (237)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

237. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a fine in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24792/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The final instalment of €1,815.46 of an outstanding REPS 3 debt that arose in 2009 was netted against a Disadvantaged Area Payments on 25th September 2012.

In addition the person named joined the Organic Farming Scheme in June 2008 and received payments for the first four years of the contract. The Organic Farming Scheme 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 inspection in July 2011 by officials in my Department a discrepancy was discovered between the land claimed on the Single Payment Scheme application and the Organic Farming Scheme. This resulted in an overpayment of €1,371.81 on his Organic Farming Scheme payment. The person named was notified of this debt and the debt was recouped on 30 November, 2012 from his Single Payment Scheme payment.

Credit Availability

Questions (238)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

238. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to the food harvest 2020 report which sets outs a growth plan which foresees a 1.5 billion euro increase in the value of primary output, a value increase of 3 billion and a 42% increase in exports over the years 2007-2009, the FCI endorses this report but the agricultural sector can only do so much without his assistance, currently over stretched farmers are not being provided with credit from banks and the action he will take to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24795/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Deputy might note that significant progress has already been made towards achieving the Food Harvest 2020 targets. The Food Harvest High Level Implementation Committee, which I chair, monitors progress and by end 2012, the value of overall primary production had risen by 21%, (2020 target 33%) and the value of exports had increased by 12%, (2020 target 42%). By end 2010, the latest data available from the CSO, value added production had improved by 5.6%.

I am aware that, like many other sectors, farmers can find it difficult to get credit due to the strict assessments introduced as a result of the global financial crisis. I am, of course, also conscious of the effect on farmers’ incomes due to the increase in input costs as a result of the current fodder shortage. Consequently, I recently announced an extension of the imported fodder transport scheme for a further two weeks and the doubling of the fund to €2 million. To date some 30,000 tonnes of imported fodder have benefited from my Department’s contribution. This remains a very challenging situation for farmers and my Department is continuing to monitor the situation on a day-by-day basis.

My officials are in regular contact with farm bodies, various national banks and the Banking Federation concerning the availability of credit to farmers. I am aware that a number of banks have designed new credit facilities specifically tailored for the agri-food sector in recent months. Also, despite the concerns expressed about lack of credit, a relatively small number of cases from the agri-food sector have come before the Credit Review Office. My officials have assisted one of the farm organizations in explaining the work of the Credit Review Office, so that they can help their members in this regard. I would encourage farmers to make use of this system should they have difficulty in accessing credit.

Agriculture Schemes Payments

Questions (239)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

239. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether every active farmer should get an advance of €1,000 of the payments due to be paid in the autumn to alleviate the stress and financial pressure they are under at the moment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24796/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I am particularly conscious of the difficulties facing farmers, prompted by the prolonged period of adverse weather, which has cumulated in severe fodder shortages in many areas and I have taken a number of steps to assist.

Specifically, I have introduced the Imported Fodder Transport Scheme, designed to assist towards the transport costs of imported fodder and maintenance of stocking levels. The situation has prompted action by the wider industry and farm bodies, which is very welcome. In keeping the situation under constant review, I decided, given the ongoing shortages in some areas, to extend the Imported Fodder Transport Scheme to 24 May and to double the funding available to €2 million. Simultaneously, my Department’s Emergency Welfare System continues to respond to individual emergency situations. 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.

I also decided that a formal request should again be made to the EU Commission seeking agreement to pay an advance from 16 October of the 2013 Single Farm Payment which, being the first day of the new EU financial year, is the earliest potential payment date and almost two months ahead of the standard timeline. It will be recalled that my successful approach to Commissioner Ciolos for agreement to making an advance payment of the 2012 Single Farm Payment was prompted by the very wet weather experienced throughout last summer.

My Department will continue to make every effort to ensure that payments under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commence as early as possible in September, while taking into account of the need to adhere to the requirement in the governing EU Regulation, which provides that all eligibility checks must be finalised before full payments can commence .

To date, over 29,300 of the remaining 30,200 REPS 4 participants have been paid a total of nearly €170m in respect of the 2012 application period, with almost €35m of this issuing in 2013. A further €1m issued in the past week to REPS 4 farmers. Payments to the final 900 query cases are ongoing and are expected to be finalised shortly.

Following the issue of over 2,000 AEOS payments valued at approximately €3m over the last two weeks, a further €700,000 will issue to nearly 300 more farmers in the next week. This will bring the total paid under AEOS 1 and 2 applicants to over €40m in respect of the 2012 application period, €15m of which issued in 2013 alone.

School Absenteeism

Questions (240)

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

240. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will have her Department officials call to the yellow flag school (details supplied) with a view to assisting four schools on this campus to address the attendance records and participation by students from the adjoining Labre Park Travellers' site; if she will agree to co-operate with the schools in attempting to improve the attendance of these students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24533/13]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), which operates under the auspices of my Department, has a statutory remit to ensure that ‘each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education’. In particular, the NEWB has a key role to respond to instances where children are not attending school regularly, or where there is concern about a child’s educational welfare. Supporting and promoting attendance, participation and retention are the core responsibilities of all staff and services working within the remit of the NEWB. The Board works closely with families and schools, and other agencies and services where appropriate, to ensure children have the benefit of professional collaboration and coordination in meeting their needs.

The Education Welfare Service, and its network of Education Welfare Officers (EWOs), is a key resource for the Board in delivering on its statutory remit. EWOs have the statutory authority to enter schools during a school day to inspect the attendance records of a school.

The Deputy may wish to note that the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 obliges schools to record and monitor attendances and to report absences to the EWO in specific circumstances; such as where a child is absent for 20 days or more, where a child is expelled or suspended for six days or more cumulatively, or where the principal of a school has concerns about the educational welfare of a child. I am advised by the NEWB that cases where there are significant concerns about any child’s attendance at school, or where a child is identified as “at-risk” of persistent poor attendance or early school leaving, then these cases are prioritised by the Board. Accordingly, I will refer the matters raised by the Deputy to the NEWB for its appropriate attention.

The NEWB also has strategic and operational responsibility for the School Completion Programme and the Home School Community Liaison Scheme within its remit to deliver an integrated continuum of educational welfare services. The identified schools as well as others serving the children of Labre Park Travellers’ Site receive support through projects of the School Completion Programme. The SCP projects support children identified by the Local Management Committees through the provision of a range of supports and interventions designed to retain young people in the formal education system to completion of senior cycle and to generally improve their school attendance, participation and retention.

The NEWB participates on the Traveller Education Strategy Advisory and Consultative Forum, which is chaired by the Department of Education and Skills. The objective of the forum is to monitor implementation of the Traveller Education Strategy and to support traveller parents in their responsibilities to ensure their children remain in school and to develop mechanisms to improve educational outcomes for traveller children.

The NEWB has made significant progress towards delivering an integrated school support service on the principle of “One Child, One Team, One Plan". This streamlined national approach to education support services will enhance the Board’s support to schools, children and their families.

Foreign Adoptions

Questions (241)

Paschal Donohoe

Question:

241. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update from the Adoption Authority of Ireland on the status of an application for a child (details supplied) in Dublin 3 who was adopted from Cambodia three years ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24508/13]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

As this is a service matter relating to an individual case I have asked the Adoption Authority of Ireland to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Adoption Services Provision

Questions (242)

Joe McHugh

Question:

242. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her policy for regulation of adoption has changed since 2011; if she will consider amending section 63 of the Adoption Act 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24536/13]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Adoption in Ireland is governed by the Adoption Act, 2010. My Department is responsible for matters relating to the formulation of adoption legislation, including Regulations, and public policy issues on adoption. The Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) was established in November 2010. The Authority is an independent statutory body charged with implementing the Adoption Act, 2010. The Authority has responsibility for the direct operational implementation of legislation and Government policy. Other bodies as designated and provided for by the legislation, such as the HSE and the 'registered accredited bodies', perform various functions in relation to operational matters, which have been delegated to them by the Authority. The Adoption Authority acts as the regulatory body for these agencies.

Declarations of eligibility and suitability to adopt which were issued under Section 63 of the Adoption Act will expire on 31st October 2013. Following consultation with my Department, the AAI and the HSE agreed a process whereby holders of valid Section 63 declarations, may apply to the HSE under Section 37 of the Act for an assessment review, which will not include a full assessment process. These applicants may then obtain a Section 40 declaration of eligibility and suitability to adopt.

Disability Act Employment Targets

Questions (243)

Tom Fleming

Question:

243. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the target of her Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding employment of persons with disabilities in the special category; if the target is being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total workforce in her Department that it represents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24609/13]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The civil service is an equal opportunities employer and all recruitment campaigns are conducted in strict compliance with the Codes of Practice set out by the Commission for Public Service Appointments and is subject to the Code of Practice on the Employment of People with Disabilities in the Irish Civil Service.

The civil service is also subject to specific legal obligations in the Disability Act 2005.  Part 5 of the Act sets out the requirement, insofar as practicable:

- to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities;

- to comply with any statutory Code of Practice;

- to meet a target of 3% of employees with disabilities;

- to report every year on achievement of these obligations.  

In early 2013 my Department undertook a staff census of all staff in place as at December 2012 and also noted all staff who had received an accommodation on the basis of a disability. Six members of staff identified themselves as having a disability as defined under the Disability Act 2005. A further two members of staff had received office accommodations, on foot of doctor's reports, based on their disability requirements. These eight members of staff represent 5.8% of the total number of staff in this Department at the end of December 2012. This Department has no subsidiary offices.

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is also participating in the Willing Able and Mentoring (WAM) Programme which is a paid mentored work placement programme aimed at graduates with disabilities and has offered a six month placement during 2013.