Written Answers Nos. 551-571
551. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the future and development of Donadea Forest Park in north Kildare with particular reference to the removal of entry fees to the park for local residents and schools to facilitate ease of access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25181/13]
View answer582. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the future and development of Donadea Forest Park in north Kildare with particular reference to the removal of entry fees to the park for local residents and schools to facilitate ease of access; if he is of the opinion that the estate and woodland therein will not be sold off as per a troika agreement entered into by his predecessors; if he is satisfied regarding the importance of the estate as an established amenity serving a whole area in north Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25781/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 582 together.
Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of the State’s forestry estate, are the responsibility of the company. Coillte has advised, in relation to entry fees, that, while pedestrian access is free, the company has no plans to remove entry fees for vehicular access to its forest parks. I am further advised that a fee of €5 per car applies for access to the forest park but that an annual access card can be purchased online for €40 for access to all forest parks on Coillte property. The company also advises that Coillte has facilitated local school events, decisions on which are made on a case by case basis.
I am aware of the importance of Donadea Forest Park as a recreational amenity in North Kildare. With reference to the Government decision, in the context of the asset disposal programme, that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be put forward for sale, NewERA, Coillte, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and this Department have examined the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte’s forest assets. This examination included the identification of the forestry assets involved, the determination of their value and the consideration of a number of issues associated with the proposed sale of the harvesting rights. Public access to recreational land, and the protection of such access, was one of the issues so identified and considered. The overall analysis on the proposed sale of Coillte harvesting rights has been finalised, the outcome of which is currently being considered by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and myself. It will be brought to Government in due course for consideration.
552. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of the agri-environment options scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25064/13]
View answerAn application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 14 November 2012 and an acknowledgement letter has issued to the person named. The processing of all applications is now being finalised and applicants, including the person named will be informed of the outcome of the selection process this week.
553. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an appeal made in writing in March 2012, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork on receipt of documentation from his Department following an inspection in July 2011 on their lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25131/13]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 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. These checks have been completed for 2012 and the Year 4 75% payment amounting to €6,234.60 issued for payment on 10 December 2012. The remaining 25% balancing payment amounting to €2,078.20 issued for payment on 18 December 2012.
Following an Inspection in July 2011 a 30% penalty was applied to the 2011 payment due to evidence of damage to habitats and discrepancies with record sheets. The person named was informed of this decision on 30 March 2012. My Department has no record of having received an appeal in respect of this decision from the person named.
554. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers awaiting 2011 payments and the number awaiting 2012 payment in respect of the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25138/13]
View answerUnder the EU Regulations governing the scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. Successive EU audits have made it absolutely clear that compliance with the Regulations must be strictly adhered to and that all administrative checks must be passed and eligibility conditions met before payment issues. As a result, my Department is obliged to ensure that individual payments will not issue until all aspects of a farmer’s application are in order, all outstanding documentation provided and all queries resolved.
Outstanding payments under both AEOS I and AEOS II are largely due to unresolved queries associated with applications and in most instances officials in my Department will have contacted the applicants concerned with the intention of issuing payment as soon as possible. I am conscious of the importance of these payments to farmer’s incomes especially at this difficult time and my Department is making every effort to assist farmers in regularising their applications and claims for payment. Additional resources have been assigned to dealing with all outstanding queries and payments will continue to issue on an ongoing basis as outstanding issues are resolved. The table below sets out the details of the number of farmers awaiting 2011 and 2012 payments.
|
- |
AEOS 2 - 2011 |
AEOS 2 - 2012 |
|
Unpaid Cases |
430 |
1,905 |
|
- |
AEOS 1 - 2011 |
AEOS 1 - 2012 |
|
Unpaid Cases |
167 |
803 |
555. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of the 2012 agri-environment options scheme 2 will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25139/13]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2011 and has received full payment totalling €1,186.79 in respect of 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 selected for a ground inspection which took place on 26 October 2012. During this inspection, areas of non-compliance with the terms and condition of the scheme were noted in relation to the Traditional Stone Wall Maintenance action which will result in a penalty being imposed. On 21 February 2013, a letter issued to the person named outlining the nature of the penalty and the appeal options. To date, no appeal has been received by officials in my Department. The application is being finalised on the basis of the inspection findings and payment will issue shortly.
556. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the dairy discussion group scheme 2012 will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25226/13]
View answerPayments in respect of the 2012 Dairy Efficiency Programme commenced issuing on 15 March 2013. As processing of the application of the person named has recently been finalised, payment will shortly issue, directly to the nominated bank account.
557. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on an review of further evidence supplied to the disadvantaged areas appeals committee to support an application for the disadvantage areas scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25237/13]
View answerFollowing direct contact with the person named, a further review was carried out in this case, enabling the derogation application to be accepted on the basis of satisfying Category 2 (farming marginal/designated lands). Processing of the application of the person named has been finalised, with payment due to issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account.
558. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on a review of a decision on a penalty on a REP scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25240/13]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in May 2008 and received payments for the first four 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. These checks have been completed in this instance and the Year 5 75% payment amounting to €1,387.71 issued for payment on 10 December 2012. The remaining 25% balancing payment amounting to €462.57 issued for payment on 18 December 2012.
Following an Inspection in October 2010 a 50% penalty was applied to the 2010 payments for failure to abide by the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme in relation to Measure 3 “Protection and Maintenance of Watercourses, Waterbodies and Wells”. The person named appealed this decision. My Department is currently finalising its examination of the appeal and a decision will issue shortly to the person named.
559. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any funding opportunities are available for a project (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25243/13]
View answerThere is no grant-aid available at present from my Department for the conversion of an existing poultry unit into a free range unit.
560. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the European Commission’s recent notification to the Faroe Islands regarding sustainable fishing; if he will outline his position relating to the necessary science based management measures to ensure sustainability that the Commission is proposing for the Faroes in line with Regulation (EU) No. 1026/2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25259/13]
View answerIreland supported the adoption by Council of Regulation (EU) No 1026/2012 on certain measures for the purpose of the conservation of fish stocks in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing. It has also called for its implementation in regard to the long standing dispute on mackerel and most recently on Atlanto Scandian Herring. The European Commission’s recent notification to the Faroe Islands pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 1026/2012 is in relation to their recent actions in the Atlanto Scandian Herring fishery.
Since 1996 the stock of Atlanto Scandian Herring has been jointly managed in a Coastal States Framework with, the Russian Federation, Norway, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and the EU.
In 2007, following consultations with the five Coastal States a long term management plan based on scientific advice was agreed by the parties. The intention of the plan was to deliver a sustainable fishery which kept catches within safe biological limits.
In January this year the Faroe Islands withdrew from the Coastal States consultations, indicating their intention to declare an autonomous TAC for 2013. Prior to this withdrawal they had not made any specific demand, nor provided any substantive case for a revised share of the fishing resource. On 23 January this year, the remaining four coastal states set their 2013 quotas in accordance with scientific advice and on the basis of the long term management plan and existing sharing arrangements. The four parties set aside 31,940t for the Faroe Islands equivalent to their traditional share of 5.16% of the overall TAC.
The Faroe Islands subsequently set their own unilateral TAC at 105,230t for 2013; this decision ignores the agreed management plan, the scientifically recommended TAC for the stock and the legitimate rights of the other four coastal states. The notification issued by the Commission to the Faroe Islands pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 1026/2012 is the first step in a process that could lead to the introduction of trade sanctions. However, it is designed to allow the country notified time to consider their position and take whatever remedial action necessary. I support the decision by the Commission to issue this notification, and I am hopeful that a resolution can be found that does not necessitate a further escalation of the process.
561. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application for payment under the agri-environment options scheme 2012 will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; when payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25310/13]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2011 and full payment totalling €1,333.32 issued in respect of 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. These checks have been completed and payment totalling €3,978.80 issued to the person named in respect of the 2012 scheme year – 75% on 6 March and 25% on 15 May.
562. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will have their entitlements reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25345/13]
View answerUnder the Single Payment Scheme the person named established 33.40 standard entitlements with a total value of €787.57. The EU Regulations governing this scheme stated that each farmer was required in the first instance to activate their entitlements by submitting a 2005 Single Payment Scheme application. Once the entitlements were activated the entitlements had to be used at least once in any one of the three year period 2005, 2006 and 2007. ‘Used’ in this context means that in any one these years one hectare of eligible land must have been declared in respect of each entitlement held. The Regulations further provided that any entitlements that remain unused over the three year period must revert to the National Reserve and are thereby lost to the farmer.
The person named submitted a Single Payment Application in 2005 and successfully activated his entitlements however did not declare any land on this application therefore the entitlements were unused in 2005. No Single Payment application was submitted in 2006 or 2007 therefore the person named did not declare any hectares and as a result of non usage these entitlements expired and were reverted to the National Reserve.
A letter issued to the person named informing him of this decision on the 16 May 2008 and advised him of his right to seek a review. A letter of appeal was submitted on the 14 May 2013, but as the appeal did not disclose any Force Majeure circumstances and taking into account the passage of time the appeal was refused and a letter issued to the person named informing him of the Department’s decision.
563. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25346/13]
View answerAn application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2011. It was established that the applicant was not entitled to claim any of the land declared on the application.
The regulatory penalty appropriate in such circumstances is that the applicant is not entitled to payment in the year of application. In addition, an administrative fine, equivalent to the amount of aid payable on the difference between the area declared and the area found, must be deducted from future payments due to the applicant over the course of the following 3 years. As a result of this administrative fine being applied, the person named received no payment under the 2012 Single Payment Scheme, the bulk of the administrative fine being recouped against the payment due under the 2012 Scheme. The small outstanding balance of the fine must be recouped against any payment due under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme.
564. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the agri-environment option scheme section 2 payment in respect of a person (details supplied ) in County Wexford; when payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25382/13]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2011 and has received full payment totalling €851.61 in respect of 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 selected for a ground inspection which took place on 16 November 2012. During this inspection, areas of non-compliance with the terms and condition of the scheme were noted in relation to the Green Cover Establishment from a sown crop action which resulted in the application of the person named being terminated.
On 12 December 2012, a letter issued to the person named, notifying him that the application had been terminated and outlining the appeal options. An appeal was received by my Department in January 2013 and the person named was informed in March 2013 that he was successful in his appeal. However following this further issues arose regarding the Tree Planting – Standard, Planting New Hedgerow and Laying Hedgerow actions which resulted in a penalty being applied. The person named was notified of these issues in writing dated 17th April 2013 and he was informed of his appeal options. To date, no appeal has been received by officials in my Department. Accordingly the application will now be processed for payment on the basis of the inspection findings.
565. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on proposed changes to the ownership of Coillte. [25426/13]
View answerCoillte was established as a private company in accordance with the Forestry Act 1988, which provided for the issue of shares to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It is therefore a State owned company. I wish to reiterate that it is the sale of the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests that is under consideration and not the sale of the land or the company. The overall analysis on the proposed sale of Coillte harvesting rights has been finalised, the outcome of which is currently being considered by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and myself. It will be brought to Government in due course for consideration.
566. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a fertilizer subsidy to address the fodder crisis and to assist cash strapped farmers to obtain rapid growth levels of grass in the short to medium term; if he will immediately introduce a nitrates directive derogation and substantially raise the nitrate directive limits of 170 kg per hectare to more than 200 kg in view of the fact that the grass growth is at least four weeks behind normal growth patterns and these measures will assist in dealing with the fodder shortage in the most practical way possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25431/13]
View answerIn addressing the fodder shortage, I have implemented a number of measures to support the industry in overcoming the fodder deficit.
On 24 April I the establishment of a €1 million transport fodder scheme to help alleviate the difficulties being encountered by farmers. 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 to €2 million. Fodder, eligible under the scheme and delivered into the country was covered up to Friday 24 May. I also decided, as an exceptional measure, that any definite purchases that were placed by that date, but which will not be delivered until this week, will be included under the scheme. By the end of this week some 2,300 loads of imported fodder, amounting to about 34,000 tonnes, will have benefited from my Department’s contribution to these transport costs. My Department is monitoring the situation on a very regular 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 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 myself 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.
Phosphorous is essential for grass growth. 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.
For many farmers concerns regarding access to credit and flexibility around loan repayments have been a significant issue. I have been in contact with banks, co-ops and feed merchants to urge flexibility and co-operation at this challenging time. I am happy to note that a number of co-ops have introduced measures to support fertiliser usage, such as interest free credit terms for a period.
567. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of grass fed beef exported to Canada per annum for the past ten years; the value of this produce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25440/13]
View answerWhile more than 90% of our beef exports go to EU markets, it is always beneficial to have the maximum possible number of market outlets available for our high quality food products. I am therefore committed to ensuring that Irish operators have access to as many markets as possible worldwide. Ireland, in common with the rest of the EU, currently does not have official access to the Canadian market for beef. I have made no secret of my concerns regarding the current Canadian stance, which is not in line with OIE international standards, and will continue to press to have the ban on EU and Irish beef lifted by the Canadians.
568. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application for a REP scheme payment will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25513/13]
View answerThe holding of the applicant was subject to an eligibility inspection in respect of the application made under the 2012 Schemes, including REPS. The findings of that inspection have been communicated to the person named in writing. The applicant sought a review of these findings. A decision was recently communicated to the person named regarding this appeal. Based on the outcome of this decision officials in my Department will now request a revised REPS plan from the person named. Upon receipt of this adjusted plan the REPS application will be processed with the intention of an early resolution and payment of outstanding REPS payments.
569. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue in respect of an application under the breeding scheme for suckler herds to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [25515/13]
View answerThe person named registered 11 animals under the 2012 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payment has been approved for 8 of these animals and will issue in the near future. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme, dams of calves should be at least 24 months old at the time of first calving. In this case, two of the dams were under 22 months of age at time of calving and are therefore ineligible for payment. A letter issued to the applicant on 23 May 2013 with a view to resolution of errors identified with the remaining animal.
570. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of an agri-environment options scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25560/13]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2011 and full payment totalling €1,182.91 issued in respect of 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. These checks have been completed and payment totalling €3,988.96 issued to the person named in respect of the 2012 scheme year – 75% on 13 May and 25% on 15 May.
571. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on a forestry application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25585/13]
View answerThe application by the person in question is still under consideration within my Department. It is expected that a decision will be made shortly and the person named will be notified of the outcome.
