Written Answers Nos. 192-199
192. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make an application for EU solidarity funding to help address the serious situation and suffering that our farmers are enduring at present during this fodder crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24929/13]
View answerI can confirm that the EU Solidarity Fund, which has been mentioned as a possible source of further support, would not be available in these circumstances. The EU Solidarity Fund, is in the main, confined to major disasters which have lasting repercussions on economic stability, living conditions and the natural environment.
The EU Solidarity Fund only intervenes for non-insurable public emergency operations, such as repair of damaged public infrastructure, costs of rescue services, clean up operations and so on.
Unfortunately, a fodder crisis does not fall within the field of application of the Fund as laid down. It has been further clarified that compensation for private damage, including to businesses and farmers is not eligible for Solidarity Fund Aid.
193. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the details regarding his Department's liaison office to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations based in Rome; if he will detail his recent interactions with this UN organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24933/13]
View answerThe Department’s agricultural attaché in Rome combines his function as the liaison officer with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations with other consular and trade responsibilities including assisting and promoting Ireland’s agri-food business interests in Italy and neighbouring countries.
Ireland plays a full and active role in all aspects of the work of the FAO and is represented at the FAO by the Irish Ambassador to Italy. Many of the issues on the FAO agenda are cross-cutting and inter-governmental, particularly in the areas of improving agricultural productivity, promoting food security and nutrition and encouraging global economic and social development. The Irish delegation works to ensure that Ireland’s position on agricultural and development matters are well represented at FAO and promotes close coordination with the efforts of other UN actors to combat global food insecurity and hunger, as well as with the work undertaken by Irish Aid.
Ireland is actively engaged in the governance of the FAO, being a current member of the FAO Council and the FAO legal committee. Holding the Presidency of the EU, Ireland co-ordinates and represents EU member states within the many fora housed within the FAO. Ireland also chairs the Council Working Group in Brussels where the EU develops common positions. Ireland will be participating in next month’s biennial meeting of the FAO Conference. It might also be noted that the programme for the visit by President Higgins to Rome last February included a meeting with the Director General of FAO.
Ireland is currently representing the EU in negotiations to agree the FAO’s biennial budget and programme of work for 2014-15. We are actively participating in the development of principles for responsible agriculture investment fresh from our participation in the drafting of internationally accepted Voluntary Guidelines for Land Tenure, and a global strategic framework for food security and nutrition.
Ireland is a strong and active voice in the FAO for support of small holder agricultural development with a focus on women, for ensuring nutritional security, and for improving the governance of national and international efforts to combat food insecurity. In that context, we have provided funding for specific projects to run in 2013/2104 on the African Agribusiness and Agro-industries Development Initiative (3ADI), which seeks to build linkages between farmers and other stakeholders in the value chain; on global initiatives on food loss and waste reduction; on the UN One Health Project which seeks to improve integrating data collection across the One Health pillars of food safety, animal health, human health and environmental health and in order to assist contingency planning a shock modelling project to assess the impact of shocks such as natural disasters, economic crises etc on household food security.
194. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications with his Department for the licensing of ships for the live export of cattle; when such applications will be processed; the additional steps he is taking to promote live exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24975/13]
View answerIreland has a strict system of transport rules in respect of both national and international journeys. The current Irish regulation in relation to the approval of ships for livestock transport is set higher than that which applies in other EU Member States. Detailed inspections are required before approval is given to ships transporting animals. The requirements for approval of dedicated vessels for the carriage of cattle by sea are contained in the Diseases of Animals (Carriage of Cattle by Sea) Orders, 1996 and 1998.
My Department has received applications relating to seven ships for the live export of cattle. Two ships have been fully approved, two are at an advanced stage and three are at a preliminary stage in the process. Enquiries have been received in relation to two further ships but no applications have been made at present.
The live export trade provides alternative market outlets for certain categories of livestock, thereby serving a market demand and providing increased competition in the market place for cattle. My Department will continue to work with those involved to facilitate this trade.
195. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will instruct his Department and Teagasc to perform an audit of stocking rates on individual farms and to assist farmers who may have potential problems going forward; the additional steps he is taking to address the current fodder shortage; if he will again assess the need to source a ship to expedite the import of fodder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24976/13]
View answerI have actively monitored the evolving situation in recent weeks arising from unusual weather patterns and, as set out below, have not been slow in taking steps not only to mitigate its immediate effects insofar as possible but also to avoid difficulties into the future.
In terms of the imported fodder transport scheme, following consultation with Met Eireann, co-ops, the farming organisations and Teagasc, and based on the advice of officials working on the ground, I took the decision 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 are delivered during the following week will be included under the scheme.
By the end of the week some 2,000 loads of imported fodder, amounting to about 30,000 tonnes, will have benefitted 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.
The animal welfare hotline that I established remains open for those with emergency situations or who need information about where to source fodder, at Lo-call 1850 21 19 90. 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 are being referred to the DVOs where there are systems in place to deal with them on a case by case basis.
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 need to maximise production in the coming period and I have asked Teagasc to prioritise this aspect in their advisory campaigns over the summer months.
Looking forward, 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 and my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr Phil Hogan, T.D., have announced a temporary and targeted adjustment of two provisions of the Nitrates Regulations to support additional fodder production on Irish farms in the coming months.
The adjustments involve:
- A discounting of some concentrate feeding when calculating the overall level of phosphorus allowed on grassland farms in 2013 and 2014; and
- an extension of two weeks to the period during with chemical fertiliser can be applied to grassland.
In order to ensure sufficient allowance of phosphorus for grassland application this year and 2014, some meal feeding in 2012 and 2013 will be discounted. The period during which chemical fertiliser can be applied to land this year has been extended by two weeks up to and including 30 September 2013. These measures will provide every opportunity to farmers to maximise grass growth and conservation into next Autumn. I believe that these pro-active measures will assist considerably in assisting farmers in avoiding difficulties next winter and thereafter.
In terms of the direct support schemes, mindful of ongoing difficulties, I 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.
My Department will also 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.
In terms of other supports, 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.
It will be clear, therefore that my Department has been playing its full part in assisting in the current difficult situation and in taking steps to enable farmers to avoid problems into the future.
196. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether sufficient progress is being made in reducing the State's legal bill in his Department and any State agencies under his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25161/13]
View answerMy Department actively manages its legal affairs and constantly seeks to minimise legal costs. While legal costs incurred by State Bodies are an operational matter for the Bodies themselves, my Department promotes early engagement and active management of legal matters concerning them.
197. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of applicant adoptive parents at present undertaking research with a view to adoption from Russia and the other countries where inter-country adoption is possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24839/13]
View answerNeither my Department nor the Adoption Authority of Ireland maintains statistics on research which may be undertaken by prospective adoptive parents.
However, there are in the region of 270 prospective adopters holding declarations which were issued under Section 63 of the Adoption Act, 2010 and who have indicated their intention to continue the adoption process by applying for declarations to be issued under Section 40 of the Act. In addition there are in the region of 320 prospective adopters who hold declarations which were issued under Section 40 of the Act.
198. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his plans for the mobility allowance and the motorised transport grant; the way recipients will be affected when current payments are scheduled to cease; if the review group has reported and the recommendations of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24809/13]
View answer207. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if details are available for the new scheme which is to replace the mobility allowance scheme; if those who are currently in receipt of the mobility allowance will transfer automatically to the new payment; the date on which applications will be accepted for the new scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24850/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 207 together.
The Government is very conscious of the needs of people with a disability. The payment of Mobility Allowance will continue until June. A Project Review Group has been working to seek solutions which do not run counter to the Equal Status Acts. An interim report regarding the immediate issue of the closure of the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant schemes has now been submitted to both Minister Reilly and myself and is under consideration with a view to bringing it to Government in the near future. A final report, looking at the wider issue of general transport for people with disabilities will be submitted in June. At this stage, it is not possible to pre-empt the outcome of the review or the decision of the Government. Announcements will be made following a Government decision on the matter.
199. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) in County Wicklow will receive dental appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24810/13]
View answerDental services to children up to 16 years are provided by the Public Dental Service of the HSE. The service is targeted at children at key stages in their development. Children are given dental examinations and any follow-up treatment required at these stages. When required, emergency dental treatment is available to all children up to 16 years. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy and to reply to him as soon as possible.
