Written Answers Nos. 434-452
434. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the circumstances in which prepaid envelopes are sent to farmers or made available to them at offices to correspond with his Department and whether there is any difference in practice between various regions. [44261/13]
View answerMy Department, as a general rule, does not provide prepaid envelopes to farmers nor make them available at its local offices. However, under certain limited circumstances it does provide such items for the purposes of data collection, animal identification and surveys. For example, in bovine identification, keepers receive prepaid envelopes and prepaid white calf birth registration cards with their tag orders. Freepost envelopes are also supplied to keepers who use Animal Events sheets to register their births. All keepers who order tags are issued with these cards and envelopes. There is no variation in practices across the different regions.
Any error letters issued by the calf birth registration and movement agencies have a freepost envelope enclosed. This also applies to all correction letters. Similarly my Department provides prepaid envelopes to sheep flock owners and goat herd keepers with their annual sheep/goat census forms in order to encourage them to return their sheep/goat census forms which under national legislation they are obliged to do. The provision of the envelopes has helped my Department maintain a very high annual response rate and it reduces the number of times officials issue reminders to submit a census.
Prepaid envelopes are also issued annually to approximately 4,000 pig herd owners to facilitate return of the pig census form. Running an annual pig census fulfils EU obligations and is a valuable resource for the Department, underpinning both identification and disease control systems.
435. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any office dealing with veterinary, livestock or agricultural and environment structures, AES, which takes telephone calls from farmers, will be retained west of the Shannon; if it is or will be possible to speak to an officer of his Department face-to-face at such offices. [44262/13]
View answerMy Department is currently in the process of centralising the administrative support for its 16 Regional Offices in two ‘back office’ locations – one in Portlaoise and the other in Cavan. The centralising of administrative procedures will enable my Department to reduce the number of administrative staff required to support District Veterinary Office operations and, accordingly, the cost of providing its services.
These new arrangements will not have any adverse effect on the services provided to farmers. When fully rolled out, telephone queries to any of my Department’s 16 Regional Offices will be dealt with by administrative staff based in Portlaoise or Cavan. Veterinary, inspectorate and technical staff will continue to operate from their current regional office locations and are available to meet with farmers as heretofore.
436. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the date of the autumn planting financial approval under the afforestation scheme has been changed from 31 January to 31 December, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this change will impact negatively on farmers participating in the disadvantaged area scheme, if he will extend the date back to 31 January for those in the DAS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44264/13]
View answerThe Autumn planting for 2013 was opened on 24 September 2013 with a completion date this year of 31 December 2013. The invitation to apply for financial approval was limited to those owners who are ready to plant within 6 weeks from 4 October 2013 i.e. by 15 November 2013 with completion by 31 December 2013. It was matter for landowners to decide if this timescale suited their individual circumstances having regard, inter alia, to the qualifying conditions for other Departmental Schemes. If it does not suit their individual circumstances to plant their land before the end of this year they may apply again for financial approval as soon as they are ready to plant.
437. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of the application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara for an aquaculture licence to produce farmed salmon using open net cages on the foreshore at Inis Oirr, Galway Bay; the status of the application for a Foreshore Licence to place structures on the area of the foreshore, to be used in the above mentioned aquaculture activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44269/13]
View answerAn application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay was received by my Department last year. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement are being considered under the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act. A determination in respect of the application will be made as soon as possible following completion of the necessary assessment process. This assessment process will take full account of all national and EU legislative requirements and will reflect the full engineering, scientific, environmental, legal and public policy aspects of the application. The fullest consideration is being given to all submissions received as part of the statutory and public consultation stages of the process.
There is always a strict separation of my Ministerial role as decision maker in respect of aquaculture licence applications and my Ministerial duty to promote the sustainable development of the industry. This separation of duties is strictly observed. As the application is under active consideration as part of the statutory process it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.
438. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the prospects of the development of a number of off-shore facilities aimed at producing farmed salmon using open net cages around the Irish coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44270/13]
View answerBord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) has submitted an application to my Department for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement are currently being considered in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act. My Department has also issued a Site Investigation Licence to BIM in respect of potential sites off the Mayo coast. I also understand that BIM is currently engaged in preliminary work with a view to a possible application to my Department for a Site Investigation Licence for an area off the coast of Donegal.
439. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by numerous organisations and individuals that facilities aimed at producing farmed salmon using open net cages can damage the stocks of wild salmon and sea trout; if so, the actions he will take to alleviate these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44271/13]
View answerAll finfish aquaculture applications and accompanying Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) are considered in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act as amended. The legislation provides for extensive consultation with stakeholders, including Inland Fisheries Ireland, which has responsibility for wild salmon stocks and sea trout. The legislation also provides for a period of general public consultation.
440. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has investigated the prospect of developing land based closed containment facilities to produce farmed salmon as an alternative to the foreshore/off-shore proposals submitted to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44272/13]
View answerApplications in respect of land based aquaculture licences are considered by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997. The legislation provides for extensive consultation with stakeholders including a period of general public consultation.
Any application for specific land based facilities is primarily an operational matter for the applicant. All applications for aquaculture licences regardless of the location of the site, in respect of which the applications are made, are referred to a wide range of consultees for comment. These include, inter alia, the Marine Institute, Inland Fisheries Ireland, the Department of Environment Community and Local Government, Fáilte Ireland, An Taisce and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. In addition my Department’s Engineering Division provides technical advice on each application.
441. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan has still not received their area aid payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44344/13]
View answerAs processing of the application of the person named under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme/Single Payment Scheme has recently been finalised, payments under both schemes are due to issue in to the person named in the coming days, directly to the nominated bank account.
442. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which research facilities remain available to the horticulture sector with particular reference to the need to provide for long-term back up in respect of research and support given, which is pivotal to the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44353/13]
View answerUnder Teagasc’s Rationalisation Programme 2009-13 it was decided to consolidate Teagasc research activities in the Dublin area at one location, Teagasc’s Ashtown Food Centre. As part of this process, the horticulture research and knowledge transfer activities at Kinsealy were to be located in new facilities in Ashtown.
The laboratory operations have already moved from Kinsealy to state of the art laboratories in Ashtown. However, an appeal to An Bord Pleanála lodged in June 2013, delayed progress in other areas. Fortunately, this appeal has been satisfactorily resolved recently and further building works are planned to commence shortly. When these building works are completed, all horticultural research and knowledge transfer facilities in the Dublin area will be based in state of the art facilities in Ashtown.
In addition, to complement its horticultural research activities, Teagasc has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Horticulture Development Company, UK. This Memorandum of Understanding is operating to the benefit of both organisations since 2011. Teagasc currently has a number of post-graduate students involved in horticultural research projects that are jointly funded by Teagasc and the Horticulture Development Company.
443. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of an agri-environment options scheme 2013 will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44383/13]
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 in respect of the 2011 Scheme Year. 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. These checks have been successfully completed in respect of the 2012 Scheme year and full payment has issued to the person named in respect of the 2012 – 75% payment issued on 4 February 2013 and the balancing 25% payment issued on 5 February 2013.
Payments for 2013 will commence when administrative checks, including the cross check against the Land Parcel Identification System, have been carried out on all applications. These administrative checks are well underway and the advance payments of 75% will commence when they are finalised.
444. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44384/13]
View answerAs processing of the application of the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme has recently been finalised, payment will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
445. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason agricultural offices in places like County Kerry are completely under-staffed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44387/13]
View answerI am satisfied that there are sufficient resources in place in my Department’s agricultural offices to enable farm inspections to be carried out in a timely manner and without any undue delay in making payments to farmers.
446. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason payment of disadvantaged areas payment and single farm payment has not issued to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; when same will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44403/13]
View answerAs processing of the application of the person named under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme/Single Payment Scheme has recently been finalised, payments under both schemes are due to issue in to the person named in the coming days, directly to the nominated bank account.
447. 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. [44405/13]
View answerAn application under the Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from person named on 16 April 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 remote sensing 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.
448. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive their single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44420/13]
View answerUnder the provision of Article 28 (1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 no payment will be made under the Single Payment Scheme where the amount claimed is less than €100. As the entitlements of the person named are valued lower than €100, no payment has issued to the person named under the Single Payment Scheme since 2009.
449. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding payment for disadvantaged area payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44439/13]
View answerAn application under the Single Payment / Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 10 May 2013. This application was the subject of a Remote Sensing (i.e. Satellite Inspection). The results of this inspection indicated that over-claims existed on land parcels declared in the application. With a view to verifying the results of the Remote Sensing inspection a ground inspection of these parcels was arranged. The findings of the inspection confirmed that the total over-claim in respect of both the Single Payment and Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was greater than 50%. In such circumstances, the penalty provided for in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009 is that no payment can issue for either Scheme in the year in question.
In addition, in accordance with the provisions of the governing EU Regulations, a Multi-Annual Sanction fine equalling to the monetary equivalent of the area over-claim by the applicant must be deducted from payments under EU funded schemes due to the applicant over the following three years.
The person named was informed of the over-claim by letter dated 18 October 2013. That letter also informed the applicant that she had a right to appeal. On receipt of any appeal the matter will be re-examined by my Department.
450. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a grassland sheep scheme payment will issue in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44440/13]
View answer451. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged areas scheme payment will issue in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44441/13]
View answer452. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm scheme payment will issue in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44442/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 450 to 452, inclusive, together.
An application under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme/Grassland Sheep Scheme was received from the person named on 3 May 2013, processing of which has recently been finalised, with payments under both the Single Payment Scheme and Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 16 October and 17 October respectively. Payments under the 2013 Grassland Sheep Scheme are not due to commence issuing until 9 December 2013.
