Written Answers Nos 125-149
125. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will have their disadvantaged area based payment processed; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51978/13]
View answerAs processing of the application of the person named under the 2013 Disadvantaged Area Scheme has recently been finalised, payment will issue shortly, to the nominated bank account of the person named.
126. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on the review of further medical evidence, sent in support of an application for derogation of the stocking rate on a 2012 disadvantaged area scheme application, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51982/13]
View answerI can confirm that, as an exceptional measure, derogation from the stocking density provisions of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is being allowed in this case, mindful of the medical evidence submitted to my Department.
127. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an outstanding disadvantaged area payment from 2011 will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51987/13]
View answerPayment in respect of the application of the person named under the 2011 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 21 September 2011.
128. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reconsider an application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the sheep fencing-mobile handling equipment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51995/13]
View answerThe TAMS Sheep Fencing/Mobile Handling Equipment Scheme, which closes for applications at the end of this year, requires an applicant to have between 50 and 1,500 ewes on his/her holding at the time of application. Applications which do not meet this requirement cannot be considered to be eligible for grant-aid.
129. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an appeal of an over declaration of a disadvantaged area payment will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52008/13]
View answerFollowing a review of the land declared by the person named on his Single Payment Scheme it was found that one land parcel was over-declared. The applicant has sought a review of the decision and this review is currently being undertaken. My Department will be in direct contact with the person named regarding the outcome of this review shortly. If the applicant is not satisfied with the outcome of the review, he can appeal his case to the Independent LPIS Appeals Committee.
130. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will bring forward regulations to outlaw or suspend hare coursing during periods of freezing weather, snow or hail and heavy winds, as these conditions lead to a sharp increase in harm caused to dogs and hares. [52053/13]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 the regulation of coursing is chiefly a matter for the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing. The ICC has confirmed that it has systems in place to underpin the welfare of animals participating in coursing events. These include mandatory inspections of hares and coursing venues in advance of the commencement of an event. Greyhounds involved in coursing are subject to the provisions of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 and the Code of Practice for the care and welfare of greyhounds, published by Bord na gCon.
The ICC has assured the Department that it goes to great lengths to ensure the highest standards are adhered to during coursing. ICC rules and regulations require the postponement of coursing meetings if the weather is unfavourable for example where snowfall or frost could impact negatively on the greyhound or the hare. The ICC has confirmed that a coursing meeting scheduled to take place on 23 November 2013 was postponed due to heavy frost. During extreme weather conditions, it is also the practice of ICC clubs to provide additional food for the hares living in the wild, within hare preserves protected by the ICC.
The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, under the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012, has responsibility for the issue of an annual licence to the ICC and its affiliated clubs to capture live hares. These licences currently have a total of 26 conditions attached to them. The conditions of these licences cover a range of items, including veterinary supervision at coursing meetings and a number of requirements attaching to the welfare of hares.
The ICC ensures that a veterinary surgeon and a control steward are present at all coursing meetings. In addition to this, veterinary staff from my Department and rangers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (part of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht) carry out random monitoring inspections during the coursing season to verify compliance with the licences and the rules governing animal welfare.
As a further control, a Monitoring Committee on Coursing was established during the 1993/94 coursing season and is comprised of officials from my Department and representatives from both the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the ICC to monitor developments in coursing and in that regard the situation is kept under constant review to ensure that coursing is run in a well controlled and responsible manner in the interests of hares and greyhounds alike.
A very high proportion (98.09%) of the hares captured for hare coursing were returned to the wild at the end of the 2012/2013 season.
The systems that are in place are, in my view, effective, proportionate and are working well. The ICC has demonstrated its willingness in recent weeks to postpone an event due poor weather. Accordingly I see no need for any unilateral intervention on my part to suspend or prohibit hare coursing during adverse weather conditions.
131. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that a single farm payment was made for land, for the years 2002 to 2004, inclusive, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [52117/13]
View answer132. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that only one applicant sought single farm payment for the years 2002 to 2004, inclusive, for a parcel of land (details supplied). [52118/13]
View answer133. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that more than one applicant sought a single farm payment for the years 2005 to 2009, inclusive, in respect of a parcel of land (details supplied). [52119/13]
View answer134. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the necessary steps required in order to claim a single farm payment for a land parcel for the years 2005 to 2009, inclusive, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [52120/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 131 to 134, inclusive, together.
The Single Payment Scheme commenced in 2005 and generally is applicable to farmers who actively farmed during all or any of the three reference years 2000, 2001, and 2002, and who were paid Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid payments in one or more of those years and for whom Single Payment entitlements were therefore established. In order to remain eligible, they, or their successors, must continue to farm. Other farmers, including new entrants to farming since the reference period, are also eligible for the Single Payment Scheme where they have received entitlements from the National Reserve or by way of a transfer.
In order to qualify for payment under the Single Farm Payment Scheme, an individual is required to submit a Single Payment Scheme application form each year, declaring one eligible hectare of land for each eligible SPS entitlement held. Applications were received from the person named under the Single Payment Scheme for years 2005 through to 2009, on which land parcel L12923018 was declared. Following validation of these applications, it transpired that this parcel was also claimed by another applicant and, following standard procedure, where both parties were requested to confirm their entitlement to claim the said parcel, it was confirmed that the person named did not have the right to claim this parcel and his applications were amended accordingly.
The person named subsequently availed of his right to pursue the matter through the Office of the Ombudsman. This course ultimately proved unsuccessful.
135. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a land registry deal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo which has been ongoing since 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52129/13]
View answerThe deal in question cannot be processed until my Department completes a re-arrangement scheme and lodges a Vesting Order with the Property Registration Authority (PRA). The publication of the Vesting Order in Iris Oifigiuil and the serving of the Order on the individuals involved is a four week process. All outstanding issues have now been dealt with and it is anticipated that the Vesting Order will be lodged in the PRA by the end of this month.
136. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is concerned by the recent ordering of a culling of lice infested farmed salmon in Norway to protect young migrating wild salmon; if he is concerned that planned farming activity in Irish waters could lead to a similar problem and threaten wild stocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52174/13]
View answerIreland’s sea lice control protocols are operated by the Marine Institute and are strictly evidence-based. The protocols are 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.
137. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the latest figures, dating from the start of the year to 28 November 2013, on the number of farmers in County Kerry who have been written to and told they have claimed for what is classified as ineligible ground, that is, ground supposedly covered by trees, furze, bushes, rocks, roads, sheds and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52198/13]
View answerDuring the processing of applications under the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas Schemes and other Direct Payment Schemes, my Department issued approximately 4,000 over-claim letters to farmers situated in Co Kerry. The over-claims would have arisen for a variety of reasons including the processing of 2013 applications with accompanying maps, Satellite inspections and the LPIS Review given rise to the ineligible features being identified. It is not possible at this stage to differentiate between over-claim letters that issued to farmers for the different types of ineligible features that arise such as houses, buildings, forestry, rivers and scrub etc.
However, the level of over-claim in the vast majority of cases would not result in any monetary reduction or if the over-claim was less than 3% or 2 hectares a reduction without penalty on the amount payable.
138. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans on the delivery of 50:50 co-financing to provide a combined EU-national annual budget of €660 million under Common Agricultural Policy Pillar II measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52202/13]
View answer139. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he will take in the context of the rural development plan 2014-2020 to address the income concerns of many farmers who depend on schemes, including disadvantaged areas, agri-environment options, REP scheme, suckler cow and sheep payments, which are vital supports and maintain the viability of farmers in vulnerable sectors and regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52203/13]
View answer140. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure that there is provision, under the rural development programme, to provide farm investment aid to support modernisation efficiencies across all sectors, including assistance for farm restructuring and competitiveness, through young farmer and other programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52204/13]
View answer141. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure a strong Pillar II rural development programme, as part of the overall Common Agricultural Policy agreement, which is vital for vulnerable sectors and regions, particularly in disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52205/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 138 to 141, inclusive, together.
The European Council agreement on the Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) provides a total of €2.19bn, or some €313m per year, for Ireland under Pillar 2 of the CAP for the period 2014 - 2020. The development of a new Rural Development Programme under Pillar 2 will be a key support in enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, achieving more sustainable management of natural resources and ensuring a more balanced development of rural areas.
A general EU co-financing rate of 53% is set out in the draft Rural Development Regulation but this rate may rise to a maximum of 80% for measures such as farm and business development, co-operation activities, and LEADER projects. Environmental type measures may be co-funded up to 75%. The total Exchequer funding that will be required to draw down the available EAFRD funding will depend on the types of measures included in the new Rural Development Programme and on the co-financing rates applied to these measures.
There are a number of conditions attached to Ireland’s allocation of €313 million per annum. The draft Regulation provides that at least 5% of EAFRD funding must be reserved for LEADER while the draft Common Provisions Regulation provides that 6% of EAFRD funding must be set aside to a national performance reserve. The funding set aside to the performance reserve will be allocated to each Member State following a performance review in 2019. The draft Rural Development Regulation also sets out that 30% of the total EAFRD amount must be reserved for environmental operations and climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
Work is currently ongoing in my Department to design the new Rural Development Programme (RDP) for the period from 2014 – 2020. In designing the new RDP, my Department must take account of the range of requirements set out in the draft Rural Development Regulation and the need to support key policy aims for the agri-food sector in the light of the Food Harvest 2020 strategy. In undertaking this work, a number of ex-ante analyses are being undertaken and a public consultation process has also taken place.
While final decisions in relation to what measures are to be included in the new RDP have not yet been made, my Department is in ongoing contact with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the overall financing that will be required. I expect to make decisions in relation to the measures to be supported under the new RDP by the end of this year, and to submit a draft programme to the Commission in early 2014.
142. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding farm inspections and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52215/13]
View answerThe Deputy is aware that the lands declared by farmers under the Single Payment Scheme, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and other Direct Payment Schemes must be eligible if these lands benefit from payment under one of more of these Schemes. My Department is currently carrying out a comprehensive exercise by excluding ineligible features, such as houses, roads, scrub, rivers, etc. in land parcels declared by farmers. In the vast majority of cases, the exclusion has no impact on payments as the farmers in question have taken a prudent approach and reduced the declared area to take account of the ineligible feature.
However, there are some cases where the level of over-declaration determined as part of this review process is greater than 20%. Under the provisions of the governing EU Regulations, an over-declaration of over 20% means that no payment can be made to the farmer in the year of application. Given the significance of such a finding for the farmer concerned, it is seen as prudent that a Department official visit each farm where the review has found an over-declaration of greater than 20%, in order to verify the position on the ground.
All such applicants will be written to by my Department informing them of the outcome of the determination in their case. They will also be informed of the following options open to them.
- Details of the dedicated telephone help-line to deal with calls from such applicants.
- Confirmation of their right to seek a review of the decision in their case.
- Informing them of the proposed visit by an official of my Department in order to establish whether the level of ineligible area determined is accurate.
In other cases where farmers declare the ineligible area, which results in an over-claim, they are written to and provided with map(s) of the excluded ineligible areas. They are also informed of their right to seek a review of the Department’s finding and to submit any information and documentation that they consider is relevant. It is a matter for each individual farmer to decide whether he or she will seek a review of the decision made in their case. Some farmers may take the view that the determination made is correct and not seek a review. In some cases where the farmer has sought a review of the determination, it may be necessary to visit the farm in order to verify the accuracy of the information submitted by the farmer as part of the review process.
All applicants, whose eligible areas have been reduced as part of this process, have the right to seek an internal Department review of the determination in their case. If they are not satisfied with the outcome of this review they can appeal their case to the LPIS Appeals Committee, which is chaired by an independent Chairman.
143. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action that will be taken to deal with those responsible for the burning to death of a horse in Tallaght last week, as highlighted by the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. [52216/13]
View answerI understand that this matter has been investigated by An Gardai Siochana and they have confirmed that the horse was dead before its carcase was burned.
Nevertheless, this incident is unfortunately an example of the ongoing issues we are faced with in animal welfare, particularly in the case of horses, and highlights the need for intervention before animal welfare is threatened. Last week, my Department, in conjunction with the local authorities and the Gardai seized 82 horses in the Cork city area. Unfortunately, a small number of horses had to be euthanized on welfare grounds. However, approximately thirty six of those seized are being re-homed with the assistance of welfare groups and a further thirty seven are being moved to supervised, registered equine premises and received passports and micro-chips in accordance with regulations.
I have asked my Department to continue to work with local authorities and Gardai in other areas if similar cases occur and intervention is required. I urge the public to continue to avail of the Animal Welfare Helpline in operation by my Department, to report instances where animal welfare may be compromised on 1850 211 990.
144. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason an index register of domestically adopted children is available, for public scrutiny, but internationally adopted children's records are closed; and her plans to change this situation. [52060/13]
View answerUnder Section 91 (1)(a) of the Adoption Act, 2010, a copy of an extract from the Register of Intercountry Adoptions may be issued by the Adoption Authority of Ireland to any person who applies to the Authority.
145. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the nationalities of children in care, on a county basis, for the past ten years. [52061/13]
View answerThe HSE compiles monthly performance reports which include statistics in relation to children in care. These reports are published on the HSE website. The latest published report shows that there were 6,465 children in the care of the HSE in September 2013. The HSE has advised me that the nationalities of children in care is not reported on a county basis. The 'Indicators of Need' chapter in the Section 8 Review of Adequacy Reports provides basic information on the ethnicity of children in care. This report is also available on the HSE website The detailed information requested in this PQ will be recorded when the National Child Care Information System (NCCIS) is completed. The NCCIS will be the central system supporting Social Work services. As a social work case management system, it will be used to record and store the case history of every child and other clients of the service. Management information will be derived automatically from the case management system. The introduction of the NCCIS is a high priority and will help in the management of social work case management and will significantly improve the level, quality and accessibility of information in respect of Children and Family Services.
146. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a breakdown of the number of children reported missing from the care system in Dublin, and on a national basis, in the years 2012 and to date in 2013; the number of these children who were subsequently found and re-entered the care system; and the ages of the children involved. [52125/13]
View answerI have requested the information from the HSE and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.
147. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the recent reports into the use of donations and proceeds from shops to top-up the salaries of chief executive officers and other officials, in sections 38 and 39 organisations funded by the Health Service Executive, if she will seek clarifications from the organisations funded by her Department to determine if similar practices exist in those organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52164/13]
View answerThe Secretary General of my Department as with other Accounting Officers, has received a request from the Public Accounts Committee to provide information with regard to the compliance with Public Service Pay Policy of all public service employees in bodies funded by my Department. This information is being compiled at present by my Department in association with the bodies concerned.
148. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a primary medical certificate application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [51979/13]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
149. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a medical card review in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51985/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
