Pearse Doherty
Question:161. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the Exchequer supplement paid to Horse Racing Ireland in 2013 and the estimated cost in 2014. [4348/14]
View answerHorse Racing Industry Funding
Questions (161)
Written answers
Government support for the horse and greyhound racing industries is provided under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, established under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001. In accordance with the Act, 80% and 20% of the monies paid into the Fund each year are distributed between Horse Racing Ireland and Bord na gCon, respectively. The amounts provided under this measure are approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas on an annual basis.
The horse and greyhound racing industries generate very substantial economic activity and make a vital contribution to the rural economy including farm incomes. These industries attract significant inward investment into the country. The most recent estimates available report that the horse racing industry contributes €1.1m to the economy and support 14,000 jobs.
Receipts from excise duty collected on off-course betting amounted to €27.1m in 2012 and €25.4m in 2013. The revenue stream from betting will increase when the Betting (Amendment) Bill 2014, which is currently being considered by the Oireachtas, is enacted. This legislation will bring remote and on-line betting within the regulatory framework and the tax net.
The amounts paid from the Fund to HRI in 2013 and the amount to be paid in 2014 is as follows:
|
- |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Horse Racing Ireland |
€44,016,000 |
€43,376,000 |
The level of State support provided to the horse racing industry has dropped by 29% since 2008.
Building Regulations Compliance
Questions (162)
Kevin Humphreys
Question:162. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in respect of capital building projects under the remit of his Department and the building programmes planned for 2014, if he will outline the impact the new building control regulations 2013, that come into effect on 1 March, will have on the costs of each specific project; if he will list the projects under way; the extra costs that will be incurred on each project due to increased professional fees and increased supervision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4359/14]
View answerWritten answers
My Department does not have any capital building projects underway that will be impacted by the new Building Control Regulations 2013.
Agriculture Scheme Appeals
Questions (163)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:163. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4417/14]
View answerWritten answers
I can inform the Deputy the applicant was advised of the outcome to his appeal earlier this week.
Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments
Questions (164)
John O'Mahony
Question:164. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive his or her REPS 4 payment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4456/14]
View answerWritten answers
The person named commenced REPS 4 in August 2009 and received payments for the first four years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the 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 Year 5 (75%) payment amounting to €4,295.74 issued to the person named on 27 January 2014. The remaining 25% balancing payment will issue shortly.
Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments
Questions (165)
Dan Neville
Question:165. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if area based compensation will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4469/14]
View answerWritten answers
An application under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 26 April 2013. Processing of the application was recently finalised following the resolution of matters concerning compliance with the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme are due to issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
Forestry Management
Questions (166)
Seán Sherlock
Question:166. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timetable for the reopening of Gougane Barra Forest Park following the planned destruction of 16,000 trees due to an outbreak of the fungus phytophthora ramorum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4472/14]
View answerWritten answers
Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of their forest estate, are the responsibility of the company.
The company has, however, advised that, in relation to the disease control measures in Gougane Barra Forest Park, Cork, the felling operation commenced on 20th January 2014 and that, following the felling, the site will be replanted. The company has also advised that the Park will close for the duration of the process, which includes harvesting, timber removal and replanting, all of which Coillte estimate will take up to six months.
Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments
Questions (167)
Noel Harrington
Question:167. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive their 2012 and 2013 AEOS payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4474/14]
View answerWritten answers
The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1st May 2013 and therefore the question of payment in respect of 2012 does not arise.
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 are well under way and I anticipate that payments for the AEOS 3 in respect of 2013 will commence in March 2014.
Written Answers Nos. 168-174 ^
Land Issues
Questions (168)
Dan Neville
Question:168. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a digital map will be issued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4478/14]
View answerWritten answers
A further letter and map regarding the ineligible areas identified following a recent review of the land parcels declared by the person named have issued to the person named. While the file will be reviewed, as requested by the Deputy, the person named should nevertheless examine the map provided and identify any errors which he considers have been made and notify these to my Department as soon as possible, in order to ensure a comprehensive review of the position.
TB Eradication Scheme
Questions (169)
Denis Naughten
Question:169. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a farmer cannot buy cattle when his or her herd is locked up with TB; if he will review a change in policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4490/14]
View answerWritten answers
The restrictions on buying further animals into herds where the presence of TB has been confirmed derive from the EU legislation governing bovine TB eradication programmes. Article 17 of Council Directive 78/52 EEC requires that a herd in which bovine TB is confirmed is not restocked until after the cattle identified as reactors are slaughtered and all cattle, over six weeks old, remaining in the herd have passed one or more official tuberculosis tests. Once a herd passes such a test, it may be restocked under permit from the District Veterinary Office.
Given that this requirement derives from binding EU legislation, it is not open to my Department to depart from it.
Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments
Questions (170)
Noel Coonan
Question:170. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an area aid disadvantaged payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4524/14]
View answerWritten answers
Payment under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme has not yet issued to the person named due to issues highlighted in relation to compliance with the Scheme Terms and Conditions, specifically relating to the definition of an ‘equine breeding operation’. As the matter has recently been resolved, following correspondence with the person named, the application is now being further processed with a view to payment at an early date, which will shortly issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments
Questions (171)
Thomas Pringle
Question:171. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a REP scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4547/14]
View answerWritten answers
The person named commenced REPS 4 in May 2008 and received payments for the first five years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the 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 administrative check an area discrepancy was discovered between the Single Farm Payment Scheme application for 2013 and the REPS Agri-Environmental Plan which has resulted in the necessity for further clarification. This issue is currently being investigated with the intention of an early resolution and payment.
Building Regulations Compliance
Questions (172)
Kevin Humphreys
Question:172. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in respect of capital building projects under the remit of her Department and the building programmes planned for 2014, if she will outline the impact the new building control regulations 2013, that come into effect on 1 March, will have on the costs of each specific project; if she will list the projects under way; the extra costs that will be incurred on each project due to increased professional fees and increased supervision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4361/14]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has been advised by the OPW, that the Building Control Regulations 2013, introduced by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, do not come into force until 1 March, 2014 and that they are not retrospective for projects commenced prior to this date. The only capital building project currently underway within the remit of my Department is in respect of the National Children Detention Facilities. The new regulations have no impact on costs for Children Detention School capital expenditure at this time and will not apply to the NCDF as this project is already commenced.
Departmental Funding
Questions (173)
John Lyons
Question:173. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will clarify reports that core funding for the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, which is under the aegis of the Child and Family Agency, will cease from 31 March 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4458/14]
View answerWritten answers
Responsibility for the funding of Rape Crisis Centres and Refuges previously funded by the HSE became the responsibility of the new Child and Family Agency upon its establishment on 1st January, 2014. I wish to advise the Deputy that as part of establishment of the new Child and Family Agency, a dedicated position of Programme Manager for domestic, sexual and gender based violence is being created. I am pleased to say that the National Programme Manager is due take up the post on 3rd February next. Since the establishment of the Child and Family Agency on 1st January, 2014 there has been a single line of accountability for all resources made available to services responding to domestic, sexual and gender based violence. Previously there was a range of local funders in children’s services, primary care and social inclusion. I would like to further assure the Deputy that funding is ring-fenced to provide frontline services in this area.
With respect to support services, I am advised that Rape Crisis Network of Ireland (RCNI) had a two year contract with the HSE which was due to finish on 31st December, 2013. This contract was extended to 31st March, 2014, but due to the level of the support services involved and the value of the contract, a tendering process for reappointment of a service is required. The National Programme Manager with special responsibility for Domestic Sexual and Gender Based Violence will work with the Head of Procurement in the Agency to develop a tender process. It is open to all qualified providers, including the RCNI, to tender for this new contract. As the provision of these supports will involve a tendering process, I hope the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot go into too much further detail in advance of the contracts being placed.
Hospital Appointments Administration
Questions (174)
Timmy Dooley
Question:174. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare who was put on a waiting list for an urgent MRI at Limerick Regional Hospital on 21 October 2013 was deleted from the list but subsequently reinstated on 24 October with no urgent status recorded at that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4349/14]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the specific hospital appointment query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.