Written Answers Nos. 177-184
177. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding payments in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42921/13]
View answerThe person named submitted a Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application on 12 March 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 processed. In the event that any queries arise officials of my Department will shortly be in contact with the person named.
178. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the exact percentage of the number of persons that have had their area aid cut due to discrepancies following on from their land being digitised (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42923/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be fully aware of the importance of payments made under the Single Payment Scheme, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and other Direct Payment Schemes to the annual income of Irish farmers. My Department is bound, under EU Regulations, to maintain the accuracy the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS), which underpins the processing of applications under these Schemes as well as REPS and AEOS.
At the start of each year, my Department issues colour maps of all land parcels declared by farmers in the previous year together with a covering letter. In that letter, farmers are reminded to examine each map carefully and to identify and exclude from their application all ineligible features such as buildings, farmyards, scrub, roadways, forests, lakes etc. included in the land parcels. There is, therefore, an onus on all farmers to ensure that the area of land declared by them as eligible for payment under the Direct Payment Schemes is accurate. These requirements are also made clear in the Terms and Conditions of the Schemes, which accompanies the pre-printed application form issued to all farmers at the commencement of the application period each year. In view of the size and structure of farm enterprises in Ireland, farmers are fully aware of all of the non-eligible areas of their holdings.
In addition to any changes submitted by farmers, in order to insure the integrity of the LPIS, and in line with the EU conditions governing the payment of funds, my Department continuously reviews the eligibility of lands claimed by farmers for the Single Payment Scheme and other Direct Payment Schemes.
In line with this position, all lands claimed under Direct Payment Schemes in respect of the 2009 – 2012 scheme years are currently subject to ongoing review for eligibility purposes. As this work is ongoing, it is not possible to give a county by country breakdown at the present time. As a result of this phase of this review, payments made to farmers in respect of claimed areas, which were found to be ineligible, must be reimbursed. In such circumstances, farmers are advised that they can either refund the over-payment directly to my Department, or, alternatively, the overpayment can be recouped from their next payment(s) due from my Department. Such reviews can only be undertaken when up-to-date imagery becomes available to my Department. During the cross-checks undertaken it is necessary to verify that the ineligible feature (e.g. a house) was in existence in the years when over-claims of eligible areas are established. Where ineligible features are identified, farmers are issued with maps of the re-digitised land parcel and are advised of the right of appeal.
Applicants will be entitled to have their case reviewed by submitting their appeal on the form provided by my Department. If they are not satisfied with the outcome of the review, they can appeal their case to the independent chaired Land Eligibility Appeals Committee. This Committee will consist of an independent Chairman and Appeals Officers from the Agriculture Appeals Office.
179. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of the number of registered farmers that are under 35 years of age; the number of persons over the state pension age that are registered as farmers; the number of persons over 85 years of age that are registered as farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42925/13]
View answerThe following tables shows the breakdown of the age profile of farmers requested, based on the Department’s 2012 SPS database.
|
Age Category |
Number of Farmers |
% of Total Farmers |
|
Under 35 |
6,828 |
5% |
|
Over 66 (State pension age) |
33,072 |
26% |
|
Over 85 |
2,961 |
2% |
|
Total Farmers |
124,843 |
The table shows that 26% of all farmers in Ireland are over the State pension age, with 2% over 85; and only 5% under 35.
I have been working to encourage more new entrants to take up farming as a career. Budget 2013 saw the extension of key reliefs that were already in place for young new entrants (such as the 100% relief from Stamp Duty and the 100% stock relief for Young Trained Farmers). The Deputy will also be aware that changes were made to retirement relief in Budget 2012 to encourage inter-generational land transfers. It should also be noted that there has been no change to the very important 90% agricultural relief on Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT). This means that farms worth up to €2.25 million will continue to be fully exempt from CAT with regard to transfers to a child.
In addition, a new restructuring relief was announced in the 2013 budget. Re-structuring is essential for us to meet the Food Harvest 2020 targets. We need to use land more productively and encourage more young farmers to make the best use of the land. An EU Commission study found that ‘younger [farm] managers tend to perform better than the EU average, with 46% more area and 57% more economic potential for 21% more labour force.’ . The new restructuring relief on Capital Gains Tax will give young farmers an opportunity to consolidate their holdings and increase efficiency.
Measures to provide targeted support to young farmers are included the final CAP reform agreement. I strongly support the proposal for a top-up for young farmers under Pillar 1 of the CAP, and indeed Ireland was one of the first countries to suggest this measure in the negotiations.
I am delighted that the number of applicants for Teagasc courses has greatly increased over the last two years. Teagasc has responded well to this demand and have introduced new courses to cater for a variety of needs. For example Teagasc launched a new Professional Diploma in Dairy Farm Management (Level 7) in association with University College Dublin (UCD). Teagasc have also developed recently a new Level 6 Specific Purpose Certificate in Farm Administration course to help meet the training requirements for full-time or part-time farmers.
I am hopeful therefore that the measures that I have introduced will encourage more young people into farming and address the age profile imbalance in Irish farming.
180. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive their disadvantaged area payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42972/13]
View answerAs 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.
181. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Galway who is participating in the Twelve Bins/Maam Turk Complex can amend their agri-environment option scheme plan to allow them to put their sheep back on the hill due to the fact that the Twelve Bins/Maam Turk Complex scheme is not being renewed after November; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42980/13]
View answerI am aware that the Twelve Bins/Maam Turk Complex Scheme, which the National Parks and Wildlife Service put in place for the purpose of regenerating these commonages, expires on Ist November, 2013. The future management of these commonage lands will now be considered in the wider context of the ongoing examination of issues relating to all Commonages. This process will involve the farmers directly managing the lands, relevant stakeholders, the farming organisations and all other interested stakeholders. The aim is to achieve a practical solution which will ensure that the farmers actively farming these lands are protected and that the land is maintained or returned to GAEC and that the requirements of the governing EU regulations are met.
182. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of public servants in his Department that are being paid in excess of the Taoiseach's salary and in excess of the Government's pay cap; the annual cost of these excess payments over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43389/13]
View answerNo officer in my Department has been in receipt of salary payment in excess of the Government pay caps first introduced in June 2011 and revised in July of this year.
183. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42954/13]
View answerI have requested the information from the HSE and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.
184. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of public servants in her Department that are being paid in excess of the Taoiseach's salary and in excess of the Government's pay cap; the annual cost of these excess payments over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43391/13]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the answer to this PQ in respect of my Department is 'Nil'.
