Written Answers Nos. 1191-1206
1191. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the payment of agri-environment options scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37822/13]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1 September 2011.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, 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 9 May 2012. During this inspection, areas of non-compliance with the terms and condition of the scheme were noted in relation to the Planting of New Hedgerows and Riparian Margin actions which resulted in a penalty being imposed. A letter issued to the person named informing him of this penalty and giving him the option to appeal the decision. An appeal was received from the person named and it is currently being considered. The person named will be notified in writing of the outcome of this appeal once a decision has been made.
1192. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the development of anaerobic digestion as a means of producing electricity and providing an added income option for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37899/13]
View answerThe formulation of policy regarding energy generation, including bioenergy, is a matter in the first instance for my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, T.D.
As regards anaerobic digestion, in 2007 my Department approved grant-aid for development of ten anaerobic digesters under the National Development Plan. To date, only one of the grantees has drawn down this funding, and it is likely that a maximum of four or five others will do so – in this regard provision was made in my Department’s Estimates in 2013 for five of these projects, but none has yet been completed. Following requests from applicants, my Department has now provided an extension until end-June 2014 for completion of the investment works that are required in order to draw down the grant-aid available.
My Department is represented on a working group, chaired by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR), in developing a National Bioenergy Strategy. This work is expected to be completed shortly. The strategy will take account of the potential that exists within the agriculture and forestry sectors to contribute to renewable energy targets for 2020 and beyond, including in relation to anaerobic digestion.
Officials from my Department have been in contact with a number of individuals who have proposals for anaerobic digestion facilities, and have engaged with them on how these proposals might be progressed.
1193. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of the average single farm payment penalty imposed on Tipperary farmers under the categories of cattle inspections, GAEC inspections and nitrates inspections; the way this compares to the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37928/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department are collating the data requested by the Deputy and will forward it directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
1194. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide figures for the number of Tipperary farmers notified in advance of a single farm payment on farm inspection, as required by the charter of rights drawn up with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37929/13]
View answerMy Department, in the context of delivering the Direct Payment Schemes, is required to carry out on-the-spot inspections on a number of farms covering such issues as eligibility under the Scheme, compliance with EU legislation in the areas of the environment, food safety, animal health and welfare and plant health and ensuring that the farm is maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition.
Rules regarding the advance notification of inspections are clearly laid down in the governing EU regulations and must be adhered to by officials in my Department. Up to 14 days notice for land eligibility and cross-compliance inspections involving SMRs other than those related to animal identification and registration, food, feed, and animal welfare. For checks involving cattle identification and registration the maximum advance notice is 48 hours provided my officials are satisfied that the purpose of the inspection is not jeopardised. For SMRs dealing with feed, food and animal welfare no advance notice may be given. These notification procedures are in accordance with those outlined in my Department’s Farmers’ Charter and Action Plan.
To date for 2013 there have been 470 inspections carried out on the ground in County Tipperary and of these 424 or 90% received prior notice of the inspection.
1195. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the discrepancies between single farm payment penalties across the different counties; if he will detail the reasons for same; his views on whether this discrepancy is fair on farmers; if his attention has been drawn to the pressure and distress inspections are placing on farmers; the steps being taken to equalise the penalties across the various counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37930/13]
View answerIn the context of delivering the Direct Payment Schemes, my Department is required to carry out on-the-spot inspections on a number of farms covering such issues as eligibility under the Scheme, compliance with EU legislation in the areas of the environment, food safety, animal health and welfare and plant health and ensuring that the farm is maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition.
A minimum of 5% of Scheme applicants are required to be inspected under the eligibility rule. These checks are carried out to verify that the actual area claimed in the application form corresponds to the area held by the farmer and to ensure there are no overlapping claims or duplicate claims. Up to two-thirds of these inspections are carried out without a farm visit and using the technique of remote sensing.
The rate of on-farm inspection required for cross-compliance is 1% of those farmers to whom the Statutory Management Requirements or GAEC apply. However, at least 3% of producers must be inspected under the Bovine and Ovine Animal Identification and Registration requirements.
Candidates for these inspections are identified either by risk analysis or as part of a random sample and the inspections must be carried out to a minimum level and specification.
While I am aware of the various pressures farmers face on a daily basis I would point out that in implementing the regime, inspectors in my Department take the maximum possible account of the realities of farming and of impacts of particular events, such as prevailing weather conditions. In addition, my Department makes every effort to integrate the various inspections with a view to avoiding more than one visit to a farm.
Furthermore all Department officers receive ongoing training on inspection requirements and in the manner of conducting an inspection. There is also a comprehensive appeal system in place for applicants who are unhappy with the inspection findings or who wish to have any aspect of the inspection reconsidered. As is normal, the incidence of breaches will vary by region and by county. There are many reasons for this variation including type of farming enterprises, risk factors applicable, inspection history, land topography, and whether the applicant has sought advice or attended a farm advisory course on aspects of the single payment cross compliance requirements.
1196. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when single farm payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37938/13]
View answerAn application under the 2012 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 11 May 2012, with the 50% advance issuing on 16 of October 2012 and the balancing payment issuing on 3 December 2012.
An application under the 2013 Single Farm Payment was received from the person named on 29 April 2013. Having successfully sought approval from the EU Commissioner, advance payments to Irish farmers under the 2013 Scheme are due to commence issuing on 16 October, the first day of the new EU financial year, fully six weeks earlier than would otherwise have been the case. The balancing payments are scheduled to begin issuing as and from 1 December 2013.
1197. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the agreement to abolish all EU sugar quotas from September 2017 will assist in re-establishing the sugar industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37949/13]
View answerIn 2011 I met with two separate groups which had conducted feasibility studies, into the possibility of establishing a new sugar/bioethanol facility in the country. I understand from figures published by the interested groups who are investigating the possibility of building a new facility, that the overall capital cost costs involved could range from €250million to €400million, depending on what type of facility will be constructed.
I also informed both groups at the time and since, that any venture to develop a combined sugar/bioethanol production facility would have to be a viable commercial proposition, and supported by a business case which is sufficiently robust to attract the funding from investors for the very substantial capital investment required. My job was to look for agreement at EU level to allow for the growing of sugar beet for the manufacture of sugar, at the earliest possible time scale.
In this connection, I am pleased to confirm to the Deputy that at the last Council of Agriculture Ministers in June, which I chaired under Ireland’s EU Presidency, I secured agreement as part of the overall CAP reform package to abolish sugar quotas by 30 September 2017. This agreement removes, with effect from 1 October 2017, the quota barrier for operators in Ireland or other Member States wishing to re-establish a sugar industry. This agreement has been welcomed by those who are interested in seeking to re-establish a sugar industry here.
1198. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail by name, location and cost the number of capital projects funded by his Department for each of the past five years to date in tabular form in an area (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37954/13]
View answerMy Department provides funding, where exchequer funds allow, for the development and repair of Local Authority owned piers and slipways under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme.
|
Year |
Location |
Total Funding Approved |
|
2007 |
Adams Quay Kinsale |
€250,000 |
|
2008 |
Adams Quay Kinsale |
€105,399 |
|
2009 |
No Local Authority Programme |
N/A |
|
2010 |
Western Division – Safety Works which included Ring, Clonakilty |
€46,369 |
|
2011 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
2012 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
2013 |
Coolmaine Sea Wall Dunworley Beach Access Courtmacsherry & Ballinglanna Slip Winches |
€26,250 €39,000 €15,000 |
1199. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to replace jobs in communities that depended heavily on drift net salmon fishing; the amount that has been spent to date in these communities to find replacement industries; the number of jobs that have been created; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37989/13]
View answerIn 2007, the then Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources introduced a Salmon Hardship Scheme to help alleviate the impact on commercial salmon fishermen affected by his decision to close the drift net fishery. BIM administered the Scheme on behalf of the Minister and I am advised by BIM that over €23 million was paid out to over 1,000 former drift net salmon fishermen.
In addition, a Community Support Scheme of €5 million was introduced by the then Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, focused primarily on communities where commercial salmon fishing was a well-established activity and where its withdrawal demonstrably impacted on the economic and social fabric of the area.
My Department’s Seafood Development Programme 2007-2013, co-funded by the European Fisheries Fund, presently makes available funding through the Fisheries Local Area Development Scheme to coastal traditional fishing communities to foster employment and diversify their economies away from the catching sector. Six Fishery Local Action Groups (FLAGs) were established in 2012, covering our full coastline. These FLAGs have been working to develop strategies for their respective regions and this year have started to make funding available to projects. The FLAGs themselves select projects for funding. Approximately €1.5 million is available to the FLAGs for the remainder of the Programme for eligible projects.
My Department is presently working on the preparation of that next Seafood Development Programme and has invited submissions by the end of September from interested parties. I expect that the Fisheries Local Area Development Scheme will feature in the next 7 year programming period. I will carefully consider any submissions received relevant to this issue and to what extent it should be prioritised in that next programme relative to other investment priorities for the seafood sector. I would encourage as many people as possible to make submissions under this process.
1200. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when will applicants in the agri-environment option scheme 3 start receiving their payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38001/13]
View answerUnder EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed on all applications before any payment can issue. My Department is dealing with a significant number of discrepancies that have arisen on individual AEOS 111 files as a result of preliminary administrative checks. I expect that all administrative checks will be completed and payments will commence in the first quarter of 2014.
1201. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will arrange to pay a forestry grant to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38020/13]
View answerThe second instalment of the grant has been processed and payment will issue this week. Payment of the outstanding three premiums will be made on receipt of a valid Tax Clearance Certificate from the applicant.
1202. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether farmers' incomes of less than €15,000 should have no further cuts imposed on them as that money is minimal in itself and no further cuts could be sustained by persons at that level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38030/13]
View answerAfter an in-depth process of consultation and negotiation that was initiated in 2011, the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the Commission reached agreement on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy under the Irish Presidency on 26 June 2013.
The agreement provides a framework for the continuing application of the CAP for the period 2015 to 2019, ensuring uniformity between Member States of the Union while allowing for a high degree of flexibility for Member States in their application of individual measures. In this regard, I am committed to undertaking a comprehensive process of consultation with all relevant stakeholders to ascertain their views on the most appropriate application of the Direct Payment Regulation in light of Ireland’s unique agricultural profile and circumstances.
In July of this year I initiated such a process of consultation with a wide variety of groups and until this process is complete, it is not possible to confirm any of the detail of Direct Payments in 2015. However as part of the Internal Convergence model proposed by Ireland, it is guaranteed that farmers with low value entitlements will have their value increased in each year of the new scheme.
1203. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when permission to plant approx 40 acres of forestry will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38032/13]
View answerBecause of the proximity of the proposed planting to a number of historical sites, a detailed archaeological examination of the area was required. This examination is now complete and the application is currently with the Forestry Inspectorate for consideration and recommendation in relation to the project. This should be complete within the next few weeks and a decision on the application will be given as soon as possible thereafter.
1204. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of money that has been paid to co-operatives that participated in the importation of fodder scheme to alleviate the hardship that farmers were enduring during the spring and early summer; the factual figures paid to date; the amount and to which co-operatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38033/13]
View answerIn light of the difficulties experienced by farmers in sourcing fodder supplies, earlier this year I announced the allocation of funding for an imported fodder transport scheme, designed to reduce the cost to farmers of imported forage (hay, silage, haylage) from outside the island of Ireland. The aid substantially covered the cost of transport into the country, thus reducing the cost to farmers of a bale of hay by approximately one third.
While the scheme operated through the co-operatives, marts and other approved agencies, the actual beneficiaries are the individual farmers and primary producers who needed urgent supplies of feed. Operating the scheme in this manner was the quickest and most effective way of getting the fodder to those who needed it.
Of the 81 different concerns which participated in the Scheme, to date, 58 have submitted claims, of which 14 have been fully processed and paid with a further 9 cases cleared to payment stage. Of the remaining 35 cases that have submitted documentation, 17 have yet to submit sufficient documentation. These concerns have been contacted directly and are working with my Department to resolve the outstanding issues. Currently documentation remains outstanding from 23 concerns.
1205. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding or support mechanisms for the suckler herd and if he is committed to the suckler herd and its continuance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38036/13]
View answerThe CAP agreement reached on 26 June provides a number of options for Member States in terms of how they can tailor the new measures to suit their specific needs. In this context my Department issued a consultative paper towards the end of July and a process of consultation is currently underway with stakeholders following which I will take decisions that will determine how the measures are to be applied in Ireland.
Amongst the issues to be decided is whether Ireland should introduce voluntary coupled support in certain sectors.
1206. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will discuss the targets on Irish agricultural emissions as negotiated between his Department, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, and the European Commission by 2020 in an overall policy package by the EU in the field of climate change; his views on whether such restrictions would place Ireland at a disadvantage to other economies in the production of milk and beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38042/13]
View answerThe 2008 Effort Sharing Decision (ESD) formed part of the EU Climate and Energy Package in 2008 for the post- Kyoto period 2013-2020. Under the ESD, Ireland agreed to reduce national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20%, compared to 2005 emissions levels, by 2020. The ESD does not set individual sectoral targets.
During 2012, as part of the work which was undertaken by the Secretariat of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) on National Climate Policy Development, my Department engaged deeply at expert level with NESC so as to explain:
- the costs and options of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the sector
- the implications of setting targets which exceed the capacity of the sector
- the actions being taken to reduce emissions in the sector and
- the evidence that these actions are effective.
The need for continuing analysis of the efficacy of proposed abatement actions, in a very complex system, was also emphasised.
Ireland’s dairy and beef sectors are recognised as being amongst the most efficient in the EU and indeed the world. This is supported by a number of international reports including from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). The JRC report also favourably compared Irish beef and lamb production with that of other countries including Brazil and New Zealand.
Teagasc published its Marginal Abatement Cost Curve for Irish Agriculture in April 2012. This analysis was conducted within the context of Food Harvest 2020 targets. Teagasc projects that Irish agriculture emissions, in the absence of abatement measures, could increase to 7% above 2010 levels by 2020. The Irish agriculture sector would nevertheless remain one of the most carbon-efficient in the world.
In summary, whilst we must face up to the reality of the Effort Sharing Decision and try to reach the National targets that were set for 2020, my Department continues to make the strong case at EU and United Nations (UNFCCC) levels that there is an inconsistency in the current approach to target setting as far as agriculture is concerned. In particular given that worldwide demand for production of food will increase by some 50% by 2030, EU policies must avoid downward pressure on food production, and maintain and enhance the EU contribution to global food production.
In my view future ambition setting at EU level therefore should not lead to a reduction in food production in an agriculture system that is recognised as one of the most efficient in the world. Such an approach carries the very real risk of carbon leakage, as production is taken up by less sustainable systems in other parts of the world with the consequence of overall increases in emissions in global terms.
Ireland must be recognised as a world leader in sustainable and carbon efficient food production through utilising existing best practice and further developing high efficiency farm practices and models.
