Skip to main content
Normal View

Tuesday, 8 Oct 2013

Written Answers Nos. 482-500

Single Payment Scheme Applications

Questions (482)

Pat Breen

Question:

482. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42036/13]

View answer

Written answers

50% advance payments under the Single Farm Payment Scheme will commence on 16 October. EU Regulations governing the administration of the scheme require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on-farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue. Processing of the 2013 application of the person named has recently been finalised and I expect that payment will on that date issue to the person named.

Single Payment Scheme Eligibility

Questions (483)

Pat Breen

Question:

483. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of area based payments will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42039/13]

View answer

Written answers

The person named is an applicant under both the Single Payment Scheme and the Disadvantaged Area Scheme. In order to meet EU requirements, the application concerned was one of a number which was selected for an eligibility inspection. As soon as the inspection and related processes are completed, the application concerned will be further processed.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications

Questions (484)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

484. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged areas aid application will be cleared for payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42072/13]

View answer

Written answers

As processing of the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application has recently been finalised, payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Questions (485)

John O'Mahony

Question:

485. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their area based farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42094/13]

View answer

Written answers

An application under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 22 April 2013, processing of which has recently been completed. Payment issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 2 October 2013.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Questions (486)

John O'Mahony

Question:

486. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their area based farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42095/13]

View answer

Written answers

The person named is an applicant under both the Single Payment Scheme and the Disadvantaged Area Scheme. In order to meet EU requirements, the application concerned was one of a number which was selected for an eligibility inspection. As soon as the inspection and related processes are completed, the application concerned will be further processed.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Application Numbers

Questions (487)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

487. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers accepted into the new agri-environment option 3 scheme who were over the number of hectares allowed for qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42097/13]

View answer

Written answers

6,000 applicants were admitted to the AEOS 3 Scheme having been selected using pre determined criteria. Of these 4,483 applicants selecting Grey Partridge, Natura and Commonage actions were approved into the scheme. Farm size was not a qualifying criteria for applicants in this category. The remaining 1,517 applicants selected had all previously participated in REPS and had a reference area of 22.06 ha or less on their 2012 Single Payment Scheme application.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Questions (488)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

488. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received their disadvantaged area scheme payment and single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42100/13]

View answer

Written answers

The person named submitted a Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application online on 28 February 2013. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on-farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue.

The application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. This inspection has been completed and the results are now being finalised. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will shortly be in contact with the person named.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Questions (489)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

489. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive their disadvantaged area scheme payment and single farm payment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42101/13]

View answer

Written answers

As processing of the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application has recently been finalised, payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account of the person named.

50% advance payments under the Single Farm Payment Scheme will commence on 16 October. EU Regulations governing the administration of the scheme require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on-farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue. Processing of the 2013 application of the person named has recently been finalised and I expect that payment will issue to the person named on that date.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Questions (490)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

490. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received their disadvantaged areas payment and single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42102/13]

View answer

Written answers

An application under the 2013 Single Farm and Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 19 April 2013, processing of which has recently been completed.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme payment issued on 26 September 2013, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

50% advance payments under the Single Farm Payment Scheme will commence on 16 October. EU Regulations governing the administration of the scheme require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on-farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue. Processing of the 2013 application of the person named has recently been finalised and I expect that payment will on that date issue to the person named.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Application Numbers

Questions (491)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

491. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers in County Galway who have not received their disadvantaged areas payment or single farm payment; the way this compares to the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42108/13]

View answer

Written answers

Payments under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced, on schedule, on 25 September and, to date, payments worth €141,325,332 million have issued nationally, to some 66,668 applicants. The details in respect of payments to farmers in County Galway are as set out in the table below, which shows the numbers paid to date and the value of those payments, together with details of the position at the corresponding stage in 2011 and 2012.

County Galway

Year

Numbers paid

Value of payments

2013

7,927

€16,397,005

2012

8,476

€18,305,177

2011

9,351

€19,978,541

Payments continue to issue, on a twice-weekly basis, as individual cases are confirmed eligible.

In the case of the Single Farm Payment, the earliest payment date under the governing EU rules is 1 December. However, earlier this year, in recognition of the difficult financial situation faced by many farmers, I successfully sought the approval of the Commissioner to have advance payments made as and from 16 October. My approach to the Commissioner had been prompted by the protracted unseasonable weather which prevailed throughout the country. This culminated in a serious national fodder shortage and led to severe financial and animal welfare difficulties for farmers.

The benefit in making these payments six weeks earlier than otherwise provided for under the existing rules of the scheme will be particularly beneficial at this time and I expect that these advance payments, including to farmers from County Galway, will result in some €600 million issuing in the initial period from 16 October.

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Questions (492)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

492. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reduction in payment due to a person (details supplied) in County Galway as a result of an alleged over-claim of commonage; the basis of the calculation of this reduction in payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42165/13]

View answer

Written answers

An application under the 2013 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Area Scheme was received from the person named in my Department on 10 May 2013. Following processing, an over-claim was identified in respect of a commonage parcel declared on the application. The person named has been informed in writing about the over-claim and of his right to have the matter reviewed. His application has been processed for payment based on the current eligible area determined.

Question No. 493 withdrawn.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Questions (494)

Jim Daly

Question:

494. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a disadvantaged areas scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork who has not received their full payment to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42216/13]

View answer

Written answers

An application under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2013, processing of which has recently been completed. Full payment issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 24 September 2013.

Single Payment Scheme Eligibility

Questions (495)

Michael Lowry

Question:

495. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a county breakdown on the land eligibility penalties imposed as a result of inspections under the single farm payment scheme for 2012; if he will provide figures on the percentage of farms where a penalty was imposed; the rate of the penalty imposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42263/13]

View answer

Written answers

Officials 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.

Grant Payments

Questions (496)

Jim Daly

Question:

496. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the status of the application for the Irish Shows Association regarding grant aid for this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42272/13]

View answer

Written answers

I can confirm that I approved the payment of a grant of €75,000 to the Irish Shows Association in June of this year.

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Questions (497)

Tom Fleming

Question:

497. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite a single farm payment application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42303/13]

View answer

Written answers

Single Farm Payment Scheme 50% advance payments will commence on 16 October. Processing of the 2013 application of the person named has recently been finalised and I expect that payment will issue to the person named as soon as possible after that date.

Sea Lice Controls

Questions (498)

Noel Grealish

Question:

498. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the recent publication (details supplied) regarding salmonis infestations on migrating Atlantic salmon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42326/13]

View answer

Written answers

Ireland’s sea lice control protocols are operated by the Marine Institute and are strictly evidence-based. The protocols are considered to be more advanced than those operated in other jurisdictions for the following reasons:

- The inspection regime is totally independent of the industry.

- Data obtained as a result of inspections is published and made widely available.

- Treatment trigger levels are set at a low level.

In 2008, the State introduced a new Pest Management Strategy, supplementing the control regime already in place. This has resulted in a steady decline in average sea lice numbers on farmed salmon since its inception.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Questions (499)

Billy Timmins

Question:

499. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a disadvantaged areas scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42328/13]

View answer

Written answers

As processing of the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application has recently been finalised, payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications

Questions (500)

Billy Timmins

Question:

500. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a person (details supplied) who is waiting for a decision on last year's payment of the disadvantaged areas scheme from the Ombudsman, which is causing a delay with this year's payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42329/13]

View answer

Written answers

The person named is one of a number of applicants under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, whose cases were impacted by the requirement to have achieved a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare, and who applied for and were refused derogation in this regard. The person named subsequently appealed unsuccessfully to the independently chaired DAS Appeals Committee. The person named subsequently availed of their right to pursue the matter with the Office of the Ombudsman; the case is currently under consideration by that Office.

Top
Share