Written Answers Nos. 200-208
200. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will follow the example of the Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development by giving an undertaking that no Coillte lands will be let, leased or sold in the short or longer term to persons or companies seeking to introduce hydraulic fracturing in Ireland. [52280/13]
View answerCoillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as land transactions, are the responsibility of the company. While the subject matter of the question, hydraulic fracturing, falls within the remit of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, I understand that the current position in relation to hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’ is that no applications proposing the use of hydraulic fracturing will be considered in Ireland until the results of the research by the Environmental Protection Agency into the potential environmental impacts of unconventional gas exploration and exploitation are available and have been considered. I understand that a report in this regard is not expected until 2015. I also understand that any application proposing the use of this technology would be the subject of Environmental Impact Assessment, which must consider the all potential environmental impacts.
201. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the discussion document prepared by Doctor Charlie Spillane, formerly of UCC, entitled Plants for the Future – a National e-Consultation on Priorities and Opportunities for Plant Research in Ireland Europe; the reason the report was not taken on board by his Department - instead activities such as closing down the Teagasc facility in Kinsealy, abolishing Bord Glas, closing down Warrenstown and de-staffing plant and horticultural research and education facilities at Kildalton to below 1970s levels have been undertaken - in view of the importance of horticulture, and other statements on this issue. [52303/13]
View answerThe “Plants for the Future” discussion document was produced in 2006 by Professor Charles Spillane, National University of Galway with the primary objective of providing Irish input into the development of a strategic research agenda for Plant research in Europe. It was based on an e-survey consultation that was sent to over 800 stakeholders in Ireland, including officials in my Department, from which he received detailed responses from 100 respondents. Following the compilation of this document, it was then disseminated to the stakeholders contacted initially. Further information is available at http://www.epsoweb.org/partnerships/plants-for-the-future.
Since then, my Department established the industry based Agri Research Expert Advisory Group (AREA), chaired by Matt Dempsey. The AREA group developed a national strategic research agenda for agri-production research entitled ‘Stimulating Sustainable Agricultural Production through Research and Innovation’ in 2011. This agenda has guided my Department’s last two research calls and contains a chapter dedicated to Crops research.
The question of the continued operation of Teagasc activities in particular locations is an operational matter for Teagasc. They have decided that Kinsealy is no longer a strategic centre for the organisation given that they also operate from sites in Ashtown and the Botanic Gardens. The move from Kinsealy to Ashtown will allow Teagasc optimize the usage of this Centre where excellent facilities have been developed in recent years. Teagasc believe that they can adequately support the horticultural industry from Ashtown and the Botanic Gardens and through closer co-operation with producer clients to undertake specific research at their facilities.
I believe that the horticulture sector benefited from the merger of Bord Glas with Bord Bia in 2004. It provided Irish horticulture producers access to the wide network of skilled and professional marketing expertise available in Bord Bia offices. The success of this approach is very evident in the range of marketing, promotion and development activities that Bord Bia carry out in support of and in conjunction with the Horticultural Industry on the domestic and export market. An example of this activity is Bord Bia’s annual organisation of Bloom in the Phoenix Park which attracts over 100,000 people and is an event that provides an important platform for the horticultural industry to exhibit and promote its products and services.
The College of Horticulture in Warrenstown, County Meath was a private college, owned and managed by the Salesians of Don Bosco. The decision to close the college in 2009 was taken by the College owners following lengthy discussions and consultation between the Trustees and Teagasc. A process was then successfully put in place to transfer Teagasc supported staff and education programmes in Warrenstown to the College of Amenity Horticulture in the Botanic Gardens. This College is currently being upgraded with new classrooms and student accommodation facilities.
New facilities were also opened in Kildalton College in 2009 following a €4m capital investment. The allocation of staff resources to Kildalton is an operational matter for Teagasc. I understand that staffing levels have been static at the College for a number of years.
202. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify the regulations from the EU and or from his Department regarding the fencing of non-commonage land in special areas of conservation and in special protection areas. [52309/13]
View answer203. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria applied to retention of single farm payment for lack of fencing on non-commonage land in special areas of conservation and special protection areas. [52310/13]
View answer204. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify the regulations of the National Parks and Wildlife Service regarding the fencing of non-commonage land in special areas of conservation and special protection areas. [52311/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 202 to 204, inclusive, together.
My Department, in the context of delivering the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and other area-related schemes, is required to carry out a comprehensive set of administrative and on the ground checks to ensure that all scheme requirements are fulfilled before any payment issues.
As the Deputy is aware, in the case of exclusively owned land, a permanent fence will normally define the area to be measured. The fencing requirement is one of a number of measures provided for to deter fraudulent claims.
However, the situation may be different in the case of hill land. In such situations, if my Department is satisfied that as the lands in question continue to be actively farmed in the traditional manner by hill farmers in compliance with the requirements of the EU Regulations governing the Direct Payment Scheme, the issue does not arise.
Furthermore applicants, who apply under the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and other Direct Payment Schemes, must adhere to the requirements of the Birds Directive (79/409EEC) and the Habitats Directive (92/43EEC).
205. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider allowing an increase in the quota allocated to smaller vessels less than 20 m in the sentinel Celtic Sea herring fishery in the weeks prior to Christmas; if he is satisfied the 2011-12 review resulted in an equitable distribution of Celtic Sea herring quota in view of the influx of vessels into the country's only open-access pelagic fishery in the past two seasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52372/13]
View answerThe Celtic Sea herring fishery is a small boat, under 18m, herring fishery operating in a specific herring spawning area off the South East Coast known as the Dunmore Box. Following two devastating collapses of the Celtic Sea Herring Fishery, the recovery plan identified the special area known as the “Dunmore Box” as an important area for herring reproduction. The Sentinel fishery was established in order to have a small fishery which would act as a sentinel or indicator of the state of the overall herring stock in the area.
In 2011, I asked the fishing industry and other interested parties to make proposals on the future management arrangements for all Irish herring fisheries, the Celtic Sea stock, the stocks off the North West coast and the Atlanto Scandian stock. The objective of the review was to deliver a policy which would ensure an economically and biologically sustainable fishery. I received over 20 sets of proposals and comments in relation to herring stocks management. It was very clear from these documents that there was no agreement within the industry as to how the future herring fishing opportunities should be managed. I asked my Department to examine the proposals received and to prepare for me a number of options, which as far as practically possible, took the views of stakeholders into account while delivering proper and effective management.
On 22 December 2011, I published a draft policy document on the matter which I believe met the objectives to the greatest extent possible. I consulted and met industry regarding the draft policy and again there was no consensus.
Having considered all views and having regard to the sustainability of the fisheries, I came to a decision which I believe provides for the proper and effective management and conservation and rational exploitation of the herring stocks. The review increased the proportion of the overall proportion of fish which could be caught in the sentinel fishery from 8% to 11%. The outcome of the rebuilding plan has meant that the overall Celtic Sea herring quota has increased from a low of 6,000 tonnes in 2009 to a possible quota of over 19,000t for 2014. In real terms this means that between the review and rebuilding plan there will be an increase in quota for the Sentinel fishery from 480t in 2009 to a possible 2090t in 2014.
The decisions I made during the review were based on a clear, detailed and objective assessment of the fisheries in recent years and is intended to ensure the long term sustainability of the herring fisheries, which I believe it is delivering and I do not intend to revisit this policy.
206. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding disadvantaged areas money in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52453/13]
View answerThe person named submitted a Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application on 9 May 2013. EU Regulations governing the administration of the 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/cross compliance inspection. This inspection has been completed and the results finalised.
Payment of the advance payment under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme issued to the nominated bank account of the person named on 25 November 2013, with the balancing payment under this scheme having issued on 2 December 2013. Payment under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued on 28 November 2013.
207. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will address the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the early childhood care and education scheme; if she will ensure that the payment is expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52233/13]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides for a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before they commence primary school.
In the region of 4,300 childcare services are participating in the ECCE programme and submit enrolment details for approximately 68,000 children to my Department at the commencement of the academic year. The enrolment details include the child's PPS number which is verified with the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to ensure the eligibility of each applicant. In cases where the PPS number or the date of birth submitted is incorrect, further evidence of the correct details is requested from the childcare service.
The details provided for the child referred to by the Deputy were not verified by the DSP and it was necessary to request additional information from the service provider. This information has been received and processed and I understand that the payment issued on 3 December 2013.
208. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 564 and 569 of 26 November 2013, in which she outlined that she would not have an audit of all adoption files carried out to ascertain information on illegal adoptions, her plans to deal with this urgent issue. [52249/13]
View answerI intend strengthening the legislative provisions regarding maintenance and access to adoption records in the forthcoming Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill. An important aspect of the proposed legislation relates to responsibility for adoption records. The intention is that the Bill is to provide that either the Adoption Authority, the HSE or an accredited body may hold adoption records, with the Authority having overall charge of those records. It is intended that the Bill will provide for the Adoption Authority to be responsible for providing access to adoption records, in accordance with the provisions of the Bill. The Bill will provide for the Adoption Authority to establish and maintain a National Index of Adoption Records, the purpose of which is to help an applicant for adoption information to identify the location of his or her adoption records.
A number of religious orders have transferred or are in the process of transferring files from their Mother and Baby Homes and Adoption Societies to the HSE. The HSE is in the process of amalgamating these files and reorganising the information and tracing system to allocate social work resources country wide in a way that will allow for reduced waiting times across the country.
In consultation with the Adoption Authority and the HSE, my Department is examining legislative and administrative options in relation to accessing records which may exist.
