Written Answers Nos. 773 - 790
773. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel currently based in Custume Barracks, Athlone, County Westmeath; if there are any plans to transfer any of them to other locations; if so, the locations and the number of personnel involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27942/13]
View answerThe military authorities have confirmed that the current strength of personnel in Custume Barracks, Athlone is 1,003. With the recent re-organisation of the Permanent Defence Force from 3 Brigades to a 2 Brigade structure, and a strength figure for the Permanent Defence Force as a whole of 9,500, I expect the number of personnel serving in Custume Barracks will remain in the order of 1,000 personnel. There is a constant through flow of personnel into and out of Custume Barracks and indeed other Barracks. This is because military service involves personnel moving into and out of particular postings as they serve at home and overseas, receive training and undergo educational and career development courses.
Custume Barracks continues to be an important operational military barracks under the reorganisation.
774. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if EU funds been used since 2008 to fund national development plan initiatives that are under the purview of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; if EU funds been used since 2008 to fund national development plan initiatives related to horse breeding; if EU funds been used since 2008 to fund national development plan initiatives related to equestrian sports and activities; if EU funds been used since 2008 to fund any initiatives related to horse breeding and equestrian sports and activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27265/13]
View answerUnder the National Development Plan 2007-2013, EU funds were used to support a number of measures. However, horse breeding and equestrian sports and activities were not in receipt of EU funds.
775. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to include a guarantee that when the harvesting rights of Coillte are sold that the land will be returned to the State in the condition that it is in when the harvesting rights returns to State ownership; if there are any plans for the inclusion of a down payment in the contract to include any forest restoration costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27941/13]
View answerI wish to reiterate that the sale of the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests is under consideration, not the land, and no decision has been taken on this matter as yet. Further to the Government decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale, NewERA, Coillte, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and this Department 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, including the need for replanting.
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.
776. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of disadvantaged area scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27096/13]
View answerUnder the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, 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.
The person named was unable to meet this requirement, but subsequently applied successfully to have unforeseen medical circumstances taken into account. Processing of the application has since been finalised, with payment issuing directly into the nominated bank account on 31 May 2013.
777. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to date following on from the launch of the Harnessing our Ocean Wealth plan launched by the Government in July 2012 which planned to double the value of Ireland’s ocean wealth to 2.4% of GDP by 2030 and increase the turnover from our ocean economy to exceed €6.4bn by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27115/13]
View answerIn recognition of the under-utilisation of our vast marine resource, the Inter-Departmental Marine Coordination Group (MCG), on behalf of the Government, developed Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth - An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland. The Plan launched by the Government in July 2012, provides a fresh momentum for growth in the marine area and seeks to ensure Government departments work together more efficiently and effectively on the diverse issues related to the marine, enabling significant input and contributions from relevant stakeholder interests from both the public and private sectors.
Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth set out the Government’s Vision, High-Level Goals, and Key ‘Enabling’ Actions the Government will take to put in place the appropriate policy, governance and business climate to enable our marine potential to be realised. The Plan sets out 39 actions and an implementation model which includes a number of integrated Government delivery mechanisms aimed at supporting an integrated system of policy and programme planning for our marine affairs. The Plan also sets out a series of early actions that form the basis of a 2012–2014 Roadmap.
The inter-departmental Marine Coordination Group meets on a monthly basis to oversee the implementation of the plan, bringing together representatives of departments with an involvement in maritime/marine issues. The Group is chaired by myself as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and convened/hosted by the Department of the Taoiseach.
The following Departments are represented;
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Department of Defence
- Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht
- Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation
- Department of Public Expenditure & Reform
- Department of the Taoiseach
The Attorney General’s Office and the CEO of the Marine Institute also participate. The group is augmented by a dedicated Maritime Affairs Attaché based in Brussels.
Since the launch in July 2012 substantial progress has been made on implementing the ‘early actions’ of Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth with key activities to date including:
- setting up of a dedicated Bureau in my Department (DAFM) to coordinate and support the implementation of the Plan;
- Quarterly reporting of short-term/ongoing actions across all relevant departments and associated agencies.
- Setting up of two targeted Task Forces:
- Enabler’s Task Force on Maritime Spatial Planning. A number of meetings held to-date, recommendations on a framework for MSP to be submitted to the Minister and the Marine Coordination Group Oct 2013; and
- Development Task Force. Department/agency and industry nominees are currently being finalised and will be announced shortly.
In order to accurately reflect the diverse and significant progress in terms of implementing the integrated marine plan, I am arranging for the publication in the near future of a Status Report on Implementing HOOW Early Ongoing Actions. It is anticipated currently that the status report will be published on the official ocean wealth website www.ouroceanwealth.ie.
778. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been approved for the agri-environment options scheme 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27186/13]
View answerAn application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 30th November 2012.
Under the selection criteria regarding farm size, only farms of 22.06 hectares or less were into admitted into the scheme. During the pre approval validation checks on the application of the person named, it was found that the farm size was in excess of the 22.06 hectares which resulted in the application being unsuccessful. On 27th May 2013, a letter issued to the person named informing him of this and giving him the option of appeal to the Department. To date, no appeal has been received by officials in my Department.
779. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been approved for the agri-environment options scheme 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27187/13]
View answerAn application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 6th December 2012. The application of the person named successfully completed the pre approval validation checks. On 27th May 2013 a letter issued to the person named informing him that his application to join the AEOS Scheme was successful and notified him of his contract commencement date of 1st May 2013.
780. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the single farm payment scheme 2013 application for consolidation of entitlements in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27189/13]
View answerThe persons named submitted a Consolidation application to my Department on the 29th May 2013. The closing date for receipt of such applications was the 15th May 2013.
Officials from my Department have reviewed the circumstances surrounding this application and are willing to accept the application at this late stage. An official from my Department made direct contact with the persons named and has clarified the position in this regard.
The application will be processed in due course and the persons named notified accordingly.
781. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form the number of persons in each county who have been successful in their application for the agri-environment option scheme 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27196/13]
View answerThe table sets out the number of persons in each County who have been approved in the Agri Environment Options Scheme III.
A total of 9,703 AEOS III applications were received by the closing date and have now been fully processed. Based on the annual budget of €20 million and following the ranking and selection process, a total of 6,000 applicants have been approved for participation in the scheme.
|
County |
Total |
|
Carlow |
25 |
|
Cavan |
139 |
|
Clare |
357 |
|
Cork |
317 |
|
Donegal |
1061 |
|
Dublin |
5 |
|
Galway |
1007 |
|
Kerry |
619 |
|
Kildare |
16 |
|
Kilkenny |
31 |
|
Laois |
26 |
|
Leitrim |
279 |
|
Limerick |
116 |
|
Longford |
42 |
|
Louth |
23 |
|
Mayo |
997 |
|
Meath |
32 |
|
Monaghan |
68 |
|
Offaly |
68 |
|
Roscommon |
275 |
|
Sligo |
220 |
|
Tipperary |
92 |
|
Waterford |
54 |
|
Westmeath |
58 |
|
Wexford |
27 |
|
Wicklow |
46 |
|
Grand Total |
6000 |
782. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider extending the funding available from his Department towards the cost of importing fodder to private individuals who organised importation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27218/13]
View answerThe principal purpose of the fodder transport scheme that I announced in April was to contribute to the transport costs of importing fodder into the country and to provide assistance to farmers to secure adequate fodder to feed their animals. The Scheme provided financial assistance to farmers for the purchase of fodder and was operated through the Dairy co-operatives. The scheme operated very successfully and has contributed significantly to alleviating the difficulties encountered by many farmers. The scheme is now closed but the ongoing availability of fodder is being monitored by my Department.
783. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the targets set out in Harvest 2020, his plans for an initiative to tackle the issue of fragmented farm holdings particularly in dairy production areas; if he is contemplating a land exchange initiative to facilitate up-scaling of dairy farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27273/13]
View answerAs part of Budget 2013 I announced a new initiative to facilitate the restructuring of farm holdings. This initiative will take the form of a relief on Capital Gains Tax. Relief will be available to farmers who undertake the sale and purchase of qualifying agricultural land(s). The relief will also be available for qualifying land exchange transactions. Qualifying transactions must occur within 24 months of each other with the initial sale or purchase of qualifying land taking place in the period 1 January 2013 to 31 December, 2015. Officials in my Department (in conjunction with Teagasc) are currently drafting guidelines for farmers in relation to this relief.
784. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite the availability of the Schmallenberg new virus vaccine, Bovilis SBV, to enable farmers to counteract the substantial sheep losses that have occurred in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27277/13]
View answerHaving recently received the requisite application from the sponsoring company concerned, my Department issued an exceptional, interim, authorisation for a Schmallenberg virus vaccine for cattle and sheep on 7 June 2013. An application for a full marketing authorisation for the product concerned, which, if approved, would replace the interim authorisation, is currently under examination in the framework of the EU Mutual Recognition regime.
My Department has been advised that the Schmallenberg vaccine will be available for supply to registered veterinary practitioners and pharmacists in the week commencing 17 June 2013 and should, therefore, be available for purchase, on prescription, shortly thereafter.
785. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of agri-environment option scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26656/13]
View answerAn application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 14th November 2012.
The application of the person named successfully completed the pre approval validation checks. On 27th May 2013 a letter issued to the person named informing her that her application to join the AEOS Scheme was successful and notified her of her contract commencement date of 1st May 2013.
786. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline in tabular form the total moneys collected by his Department for the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 in rates and charges for each of Ireland's fishery harbour centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26665/13]
View answer2007 is the last year for which an audit of the Financial Statements of the Fishery Harbour Centres has been completed by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The table sets out the total monies collected for each of the Fishery Harbour Centres for that year.
|
Fishery Harbour Centre |
€ |
|
Castletownbere |
368,521 |
|
An Daingean |
198,076 |
|
Dunmore East |
177,018 |
|
Howth |
812,347 |
|
Killybegs |
1,410,974 |
|
Ros an Mhíl |
140,083 |
|
Total |
3,107,019 |
The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General is currently auditing accounts for subsequent years.
787. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he will increase protection of the 600 proposed Natural Heritage Areas here; if he is working on proposing areas of conservation in the marine especially in areas exposed to damage from excessive fishing practices such as trawling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26671/13]
View answerThe designation of proposed Natural Heritage Areas is a matter for the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
The State’s efforts in recent times has focussed on meeting obligations arising under the Habitats and Birds Directives by designating an appropriate number of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). The State’s progress in this area has been the subject of adverse findings in the European Court of Justice and these designations must be addressed as a first priority. Once the designation process for these European sites is complete, attention will be given to the formal designation of proposed Natural Heritage Areas.
While the responsibility for designating proposed Natural Heritage Areas and conservation areas as part of the Natura 2000 network rests with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, my Department and its agencies continue to support and develop environmentally sustainable fisheries management measures both to protect the environment and the stocks concerned. Measures have already been adopted to manage dredge fisheries in Castlemaine Harbour, Kerry and Dundalk Bay and more are in development for a number of marine conservation sites.
The designation of marine protected areas under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive is led by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. My Department proactively participates in the development of the implementation framework for this Directive with the scientific services of the Marine Institute.
I have been a strong advocate of sustainable, profitable and self reliant industry that protects and enhances the social and economic fabric of rural coastal communities dependent on the seafood sector, while balancing these objectives with the need to deliver sustainable fisheries for future generations. I am happy to have recently secured the support of the European institutions for a reformed Common Fisheries Policy which will deliver added protection to existing conservation areas, while supporting the establishment of further biologically sensitive protected areas, to contribute to the conservation of living aquatic resources and marine eco-systems.
788. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the actions taken by his Department to assist farmers in counties Longford and Westmeath who are experiencing severe fodder shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26701/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that on 24 April I established a €1 million transport fodder scheme in response to the difficulties faced by farmers arising out of the extraordinarily poor spring weather which resulted in severe fodder shortages across the country. The purpose of the Scheme was to contribute to the transport costs of importing fodder into the country and to provide assistance to farmers unable to feed their animals. In light of the continued difficult circumstances and poor weather during much of the month of May, the deadline for the Scheme was extended twice and funding doubled to €2 million. By the end of May, 2,778 loads of imported fodder, amounting to over 40,000 tonnes, have been delivered to farmers through co-ops and marts.
The Animal Welfare helpline has received over 1,100 calls through the Early Warning System.
The vast majority of calls were adequately supported through fodder being made available under the transport subsidy scheme but 475 farmers, in need of more substantial support were aided with targeted emergency assistance directly by the Department. To assist farmers under financial pressure, farm payments have been processed as quickly as possible. To date over 29,300 of the remaining 30,200 REPS4 participants have been paid a total of €167 million in respect of the 2012 application period. Almost €36 million of this issued this year. In recent weeks, approximately €3.5 million worth of AEOS payments have also issued.
In addition, in co-operation with my colleague Mr. Phil Hogan TD, Minister for the Environment, a temporary and targeted adjustment of the Nitrates Regulations were made to support additional fodder production on farms and maximise grass growth for later into the growing season.
789. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of submissions he has received to date on his public consultation on the dog microchipping Initiative; if he will extend the date if a minimal number of submissions are received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26755/13]
View answerSince my initial announcement on the Dog Microchipping Initiative several dozen submissions have been made in relation to this initiative, including from those parties which had previously indicated a keen interest in the area. While I am anxious to ensure an input from all interested parties, I do not currently believe that extending the deadline will make a significant difference to the consideration of my Department of the issue.
790. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on an appeal of disadvantaged area payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway whereby medical evidence was supplied in November 2011 as a reason for not meeting stocking density; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26772/13]
View answerUnder the 2011 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 three consecutive months. The applicant failed to meet these requirements and subsequently applied on the basis of force majeure for consideration. The person named, having previously availed of Force Majeure provisions in 2010, was notified in 12 October 2011 that this application was unsuccessful. The person named has not had any stock on the holding since late 2009.
