Written Answers Nos. 662-677
662. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will examine and expedite a rural environment protection scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1180/14]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the first five years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. Following the Land Parcel Identification (LPIS) Review an area discrepancy was identified. This issue is currently being investigated and the Department will notify the person named of the outcome.
663. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal based on their 2012 AEOS 2 application and their AEOS 2013 application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1233/14]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2011 and full payment has issued in respect of 2011.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. The person named was selected for an inspection which took place on 8 November 2012. During this inspection, issues of non-compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme were noted in relation to the Species Rich Grassland and Natura actions which resulted in a penalty being incurred. A letter issued to the person named notifying him of these issues and giving him the right of appeal. No appeal was received within the timeframe laid down.
Officials in my Department are processing the application of the person named on the basis of the inspection findings and payment for the 2012 Scheme year will issue shortly.
Once the 2012 Scheme year payment has issued, payment for the 2013 scheme year will follow, subject to the results of administrative checks.
664. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the remaining 25% of a REP scheme payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1249/14]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2009 and received payments for the first four years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. This process has now been completed for 2013 payments and the 75% Year 5 payment amounting to €7,653.14 issued for payment on 20 December 2013. The remaining 25% balancing payment will issue shortly.
665. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on a review of a penalty in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1250/14]
View answerThe 2013 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. This inspection identified discrepancies between the area declared and the area found, resulting in an over-declaration in area of greater than 20% in respect of the Single Farm Payment Scheme and an over-declaration in area of between 3% and 20% in respect of the Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme.
Under the Terms and Conditions of the schemes this resulted in no payment issuing in respect of the Single Farm Payment Scheme and a reduced payment issuing in respect of the Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme. The person named was notified of the outcome of the inspection process by letter dated 15 October 2013.
The person named has appealed this decision. The review of the inspection decision is at an advanced stage and the person named will be notified of the outcome shortly. In the event the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of the review, the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office within 3 months.
666. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application will be finalised in respect a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1261/14]
View answerThe person concerned is an applicant for grant-aid under the TAMS Dairy Equipment Scheme and has received approval to proceed with investment works in regard to two separate applications. My Department has no record of having received a payment claim in respect of either application.
667. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1262/14]
View answerThe person concerned is an applicant under the TAMS Dairy Equipment Scheme and submitted an application in the final tranche which closed on 31 December 2013. The application is currently being examined and a decision will be made as soon as possible.
668. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) may expect to receive a headage payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1271/14]
View answerPayment under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme has not yet issued as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not yet satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements for 2013. Under the 2013 Scheme, in addition to maintaining 0.15 livestock units for a minimum retention period of seven consecutive months, applicants were also required to maintain an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the 12 months of the scheme year.
An exercise to take account of December 2013 data, which has recently become available, is currently ongoing and is scheduled to be completed before the end of January, thereby establishing the definitive position of the holding of the person named and other similarly affected scheme applicants. Should that re-validation confirm that the holding has satisfied the Scheme requirements, the case will be further processed with a view to payment issuing at the earliest possible date thereafter.
669. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay and complications regarding the export of live cattle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1280/14]
View answerApplications for the approval of ships for the carriage of cattle by sea must be approved by my Department in accordance with the Diseases of Animals (Carriage of Cattle by Sea) Orders, 1996 and 1998. My Department facilitates the export of live cattle by ensuring that such applications are processed expeditiously. Detailed inspections are required before approval is given to ships transporting animals and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine continues to work with all those involved – including farmers and transporters - to facilitate trade and ensure that all such trade is carried out to the highest animal health and welfare standards.
There are no delays occurring in the approval stage and approvals are issued once all provisions of the legislation are met. Nine applications for approval have been received in total. To date, two ships have been fully approved and seven others have been inspected. Detailed reports have been forwarded to the ship owners listing necessary modifications before approval can be granted by my Department.
With regard to the export of live cattle to the EU, there is already a good system of Roll-On Roll-Off Ferry services bringing livestock trucks from Ireland to France. In addition to this, it has been an aspiration of my Department for some time to have a similar service between Ireland and Great Britain. Following ongoing contact between my Dept and ferry companies, arrangements are at an advanced stage in relation to the approval of a ferry to carry livestock trucks between Ireland and Great Britain. If this comes to fruition, it will give greater flexibility than the current situation whereby livestock trucks have to travel to Larne or Belfast to gain access to Great Britain.
670. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Galway may expect a decision on an appeal for an AEOS 3 grant. [1287/14]
View answerAn application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 7 December 2012. Acceptance into the scheme, as laid down in the Terms & Conditions, was established using the following selection criteria:
Selection Criteria:
1. farmers in the Boora region of Co. Offaly who chose Wild Bird Cover Option B (Grey Partridge) as one of their selected options,
2. farmers with a minimum of 0.5 hectares of designated land,
3. farm partnerships,
4. farmers who previously participated in REPS commencing with smallest farms, and
5. others based on farm size (again favouring smaller holdings).
All eligible applicants in category 1, 2 and 3 were accepted into the Scheme. Based on the funding available farmers in category 4 with 22.06 hectares of utilisable agricultural area and below were successful. As the farm size of the person named, who was previously in REPS, is 24.94 hectares the application was unsuccessful and he was advised accordingly by letter dated 27 May, 2013.
An appeal was received and a reply issued on 20 September 2013 advising the applicant that it had been disallowed and notifying him of his right of appeal this decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
The person named submitted an appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office on 19 December 2013 which is currently being processed.
671. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a REPS payment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1299/14]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in October 2008 and received payments for the first five years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. This process has now been completed for 2013 payments and the 75% Year 6 payment amounting to €7,933.60 issued for payment on 14 January 2014. The remaining 25% balancing payment will issue shortly.
672. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 519, if farm payments will be approved and paid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [1348/14]
View answerUnder 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, there were two criteria to be satisfied in relation to those applicants availing of equines to meet the minimum stocking density requirement. Firstly, the holding itself was required to meet the definition of an Equine Breeding Enterprise and secondly, horses, in order to be taken into account for stocking density purposes, were required to be aged one to five years and, where older, must be a breeding mare for the purposes of the Scheme.
While the person named submitted details of one equine on the holding in 2012, this was not sufficient to meet the minimum stocking requirements. An official from my Department was recently in direct contact with the person named, following which the additional information to be submitted, as agreed, is currently awaiting, following receipt of which the case will be further investigated.
673. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form and year on year, the occasions on which he has signed off on the awarding of added years to public sector workers between March 2011 and December 2013; the grade of the persons awarded the added years; and the number of added years awarded in each instance. [1353/14]
View answerNotional added years are, subject to certain criteria, awarded to civil and public servants retiring in certain circumstances e.g. on ill health grounds or in cases where an entitlement to professional added years is approved. Added years are also awarded, if appropriate, when calculating death in service benefits. The awards are made in accordance with the provisions of the relevant Department of Public Expenditure & Reform pension regulations and are not subject to decisions by the Minister.
Details of the awards made to staff in my Department who retired during the period between March 2011 and end December 2013 are attached. The parallel information in respect of the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the Bodies themselves.
|
Year |
Grade |
Award |
Reason |
|
2011 |
Clerical Officer |
7 years 141 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
Clerical Officer |
1 year 238 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
Technical Agricultural Officer |
3 years 210 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
Supervisory Agricultural Officer |
0 years 214 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
District Superintendent |
6 years 243 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
2012 |
Clerical Officer |
3 years 141 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
Clerical Officer |
6 years 243 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
Clerical Officer |
9 year 118 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
Staff Officer |
4 years 302 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
Technical Agricultural Officer |
5 years 225 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
Poultry Officer |
1 year 63 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
WTVI |
1 year 313 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
WTVI |
1 year 180 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
Senior Research Officer |
6 years 9 days |
Professional added years |
|
|
2013 |
Snr Laboratory Analyst |
4 years 94 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
Snr Laboratory Analyst |
8 years 247 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
Snr Laboratory Analyst |
4 years 344 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
Services Officer |
6 years 243 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
Clerical Officer |
6 years 243 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
Clerical Officer |
6 years 243 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
Higher Executive Officer |
6 years 313 days |
Ill health grounds |
|
|
Research Officer |
4 years 335 days |
Professional added years |
|
|
Higher Executive Officer |
6 years 313 days |
Ill health grounds |
674. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form and year on year, the number of commercial and non-commercial State agency board positions under the aegis of his Department filled between March 2011 and December 2013; the number of these positions that were publicly advertised; and the number of female appointments. [1369/14]
View answerSince May 2011, a notification has been placed on my Department’s website inviting expressions of interest from persons interested in being appointed to the boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. On 20 December 2013 last, I placed an advertisement in the National Newspapers inviting expressions of interest. All expressions of interest lapse at the end of each calendar year.
In making any board appointments, I am not necessarily confined to those who make such expressions of interest but ensure that all of those appointed have the relevant mix of knowledge and expertise to contribute to the relevant board.
In the case of a number of bodies, some board appointments, while made by me, are not at my sole discretion in that individuals are nominated for appointment by me by various organisations as specified in the relevant statute. These are the Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board, Bord Bia, Teagasc, National Milk Agency, Veterinary Council of Ireland and Horse Racing Ireland.
The information sought by the Deputy is outlined in the table below as at 15 January 2014:
|
Body/ Agency |
No of Board Members |
No of Board appointments since March 2011 |
Name |
Date Appointed |
‘Expression of Interest’ Appointments |
No of current vacancies |
|
Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board |
7 |
7 (I female appointed) |
Brendan Brice |
9/11/2011 |
None-Nominations made by prescribed organisations from which Minister made appointments |
0 |
|
Camilla Keane |
23/2/2012 |
|||||
|
Sean Murphy |
1/1/2013 |
|||||
|
Michael Sweeney |
1/1/2013 |
|||||
|
Dr. Owen McIntyre |
11/04/2013 |
|||||
|
Jim Power |
11/04/2013 |
|||||
|
Lorcán O Cinnéide |
22/10/2013 |
|||||
|
An Bord Bia |
15 |
12 (including the Chair) (3 females appointed) |
Michael Carey (Chair) |
19/11/2011 |
11 Nominations made by prescribed organisations from which Minister made appointments |
1 |
|
Gary Brown |
7/10/2011 |
|||||
|
Michael Cronin |
7/10/2011 |
|||||
|
Rhona Holland |
7/10/2011 |
|||||
|
John Kingston |
7/10/2011 |
|||||
|
Brody Sweeney |
7/10/2011 |
|||||
|
Mary J Byrne |
28/03/2012 |
|||||
|
John Bryan |
24/03/2012 |
|||||
|
John Horgan |
7/12/2012 |
|||||
|
John Comer |
12/04/2013 |
|||||
|
Frank Hayes |
12/04/2013 |
|||||
|
Caroline Keeling |
10/12/2013 |
|||||
|
Bord Iascaigh Mhara |
6 |
2 (including the Chair) (No females appointed) |
Kiernan Calnan (Chair) |
13/06/2012 |
One appointment from ‘expressions of interest’ |
3 |
|
Pádraig O Céidigh |
30/04/2013 |
|||||
|
Bord na gCon |
7 |
6 (including the Chair) (no females appointed) |
Philip Meaney (Chair) |
12/04/2011 |
Four of the Ordinary Members of the Board appointed submitted ‘expressions of interest’ |
0 |
|
Matt Murphy |
2/12/2011 |
|||||
|
Brendan Moore |
2/12/2011 |
|||||
|
Tim Gilbert |
2/12/2011 |
|||||
|
Tony McNamee |
2/12/2011 |
|||||
|
William O’Dwyer |
12/06/2012 |
|||||
|
Coillte |
9 |
5 (including the Chair) (1 female appointed) |
Brendan McKenna (Chair) |
8/10/2012 – Retired from Board with effect from 27/11/2013 |
Two appointments were from ‘expressions of interest’ |
5 |
|
Oliver McCabe |
24/10/2011 – Resigned from Board with effect from 1/11/2012 |
|||||
|
David Gunning |
25/05/2012 Term of appointment Expired 19/03/2013 |
|||||
|
Julie Murphy O’Connor |
24/06/2013 |
|||||
|
John Moloney |
9/10/2013 |
|||||
|
Horse Racing Ireland |
14 |
6 (including the Chair) (3 females appointed) |
Joe Keeling (Chair) |
13 March 2013 |
Ordinary Members of the Board were appointed following their nomination by stakeholder groups in accordance with legislation |
0 |
|
Noel Meade |
8/2/2012 |
|||||
|
Neville O’Byrne |
8/2/2012 |
|||||
|
Mary O’Connor |
8/2/12 |
|||||
|
Meta Osbourne |
18/12/2013 |
|||||
|
Eimear Mulhearn |
18/12/2013 |
|||||
|
Irish National Stud |
7 |
6 (including the Chair) (1 female appointed) |
Matt Dempsey (Chair) |
28/02/2013 |
Four of the Directors appointed had submitted ‘expressions of interest’ |
0 |
|
John Tuite |
25/10/2013 |
|||||
|
Seamus Boyle |
25/10/2013 |
|||||
|
Mark Weld |
29/10/2013 |
|||||
|
Kate Horgan |
29/10/2013 |
|||||
|
Paul Shelley |
8/03/2011 |
|||||
|
Marine Institute |
9 |
4 (1 female appointed) |
Paul Hyde |
1/06/2012 |
Three appointemntments were made from 'expressions of interest' |
2 |
|
David Owen |
4/12/2012 |
|||||
|
Professor Patricia Barker |
19/02/ 2013 |
|||||
|
Donal Kelly |
15/04/2013 |
|||||
|
Sea Fisheries |
3 |
2 (1 female appointed) |
Micheál O Mahony |
1/01/2013 |
Two appointments were from ‘expressions of interest’ |
0 |
|
Dr. Susan Steele |
4/03/2013 |
|||||
|
Teagasc |
11 |
8 (including the Chair) (1 female appointed) |
Dr. Noel Cawley (Chair) |
17 September 2013 (re-appointment) |
Three appointments were from ‘expressions of interest’ |
0 |
|
Thomas Cooke |
5/10/2011 |
|||||
|
Dr Karina Pierce |
9/01/2013 |
|||||
|
Brendan Gleeson |
9/01/2013 |
|||||
|
Tom Tynan |
9/01/2013 |
|||||
|
Mr. Padraig Gibbons |
15/09/2013) (re-appointment) |
|||||
|
Mr. Alan Jagoe |
15 September 2013 |
|||||
|
Professor Gerald Fitzgerald |
15 September 2013 |
|||||
|
Veterinary Council |
19 |
6 (2 females appointed) |
Michael Sheahan |
1 January 2012 |
None |
0 |
|
Peadair Ó Scanaill |
1 January 2012 |
|||||
|
Michael Sadlier |
1 January 2012 |
|||||
|
Deirdre Campion |
1 January 2012 |
|||||
|
Martin Blake |
21 December 2011 |
|||||
|
Crionna Creagh* |
27 August 2012 |
No appointments to the following State Bodies have been made since March 2011:
· National Milk Agency – members elected rather than appointed
Directors of State Bodies who are officials of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine do not receive board fees.
* Appointed directly by the Minister as provided under Section 17 (2) of the Veterinary Practice Act 2005 as the National Consumer Agency chose not to furnish a nomination
675. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form and year on year, the number of JobBridge interns taken on in his Department in 2013. [1385/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy’s is set out in the table:
|
Number |
Year |
|
5 |
2011 |
|
3 |
2012 |
|
5 |
2013 |
676. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the role his Department will take regarding the severe storm damage caused to island communities, for example, Cape Clear, County Cork; if his Department will provide assistance for the recovery of areas damaged; if he will address the ongoing transport issues such as access to and from the island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1456/14]
View answerMy Department is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear in accordance with the 1902 ex-congested Districts Board piers, lights and Beacons Act.
My engineers have made a preliminary assessment of the damage to “Duffy’s Pier” and the overall North Harbour area on Cape Clear as a result of the recent severe weather.
Additionally my Department is currently engaged in a harbour improvement project on the island. This project includes the construction of a new slip, stabilisation and upgrade of the pier known as the “Bull nose”, and the provision of a storm gate between the two harbour piers.
It is envisaged that the work on “Bull Nose” will continue as planned and that any additional repair work on “Duffy’s Pier” will be considered as part of the National response to the storm damage.
The other issues raised will be considered within the context of a co-ordinated response by relevant Government Departments, Agencies and Local Authorities to the impacts of the recent storms.
677. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a REP scheme payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1459/14]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in October 2008 and received payments for the first five years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. This process has now been completed for 2013 payments and the 75% Year 6 payment amounting to €6,829.12 issued for payment on 10 January 2014. The remaining 25% balancing payment will issue shortly.
