Michael Healy-Rae
Question:170. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Defence his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding recent weather conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8471/14]
View answerEmergency Planning
Questions (170)
Written answers
The Framework for Major Emergency Management sets out the structure for enabling the Principal Response Agencies (An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive and Local Authorities) to provide a coordinated response to major emergencies including severe weather events. The involvement of the Defence Forces arises from requests for assistance received from such Agencies in its Aid to the Civil Authority (ATCA) role under the multi-agency Framework. At National level, representation on the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning by both my Department and the Defence Forces ensures the fullest coordination and cooperation in the event of an emergency. The Defence Forces are also represented on the eight Regional Working Groups that have been established under the Framework and, on an ongoing basis, designated members of the Defence Forces, based around the country, act as Liaison Officers to Local Authorities. The full spectrum of Defence Forces personnel and equipment, commensurate with operational requirements, is available for deployment in response to emergencies and crises.
Since the onset of the latest period of stormy weather, the Army, the Naval Service and the Air Corps were placed on standby to respond to requests for support received from the Principal Response Agencies. The Defence Forces provided assistance on a number of occasions including, for example, when fifty personnel and a number of high wheeled trucks were deployed over a two day period earlier this month to assist with the evacuation of people in Limerick and in the provision of supplies to homeowners in the affected areas.
Civil Defence, which comes under the remit of my Department, was also actively involved in dealing with the effects of the recent severe weather. To date over 500 volunteers from 20 Civil Defence Units across the country have been supporting the efforts of local authorities, the HSE and the Gardai in alleviating the effects of the severe weather on local populations. They have been engaged in a wide range of activities including water pumping, evacuating homes, sandbagging, traffic control, transportation of HSE community outreach personnel and the delivery of supplies to isolated homes.
The Department, the Defence Forces and Civil Defence attended all the National Co-ordination meetings held in support of this latest severe weather episode. They are in close liaison with the Principal Response Agencies to determine the assistance that may be sought from the Defence Forces and from Civil Defence.
Defence Forces Strength
Questions (171)
Róisín Shortall
Question:171. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of the strength of the Defence Forces for each of the past 20 years. [8543/14]
View answerWritten answers
The strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) as at 31 December in each of the last 20 years is contained in the following table.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the strength figures for the period 1994 - 2012 include personnel who were on secondment to, and being paid by other organisations, or on career breaks. The 31 December 2013 strength figures have been calculated on the basis of actual numbers serving on that date, excluding those members who are on secondment to, and being paid by other organisations, or on career breaks. All future strength figures will be calculated on this basis.
|
Date |
Strength of the PDF |
|
31 December 1994 |
12,870 |
|
31 December 1995 |
12,742 |
|
31 December 1996 |
12,108 |
|
31 December 1997 |
11,556 |
|
31 December 1998 |
11,304 |
|
31 December 1999 |
11,044 |
|
31 December 2000 |
10,726 |
|
31 December 2001 |
10,675 |
|
31 December 2002 |
10,559 |
|
31 December 2003 |
10,498 |
|
31 December 2004 |
10,551 |
|
31 December 2005 |
10,446 |
|
31 December 2006 |
10,477 |
|
31 December 2007 |
10,434 |
|
31 December 2008 |
10,408 |
|
31 December 2009 |
9,933 |
|
31 December 2010 |
9,550 |
|
31 December 2011 |
9,438 |
|
31 December 2012 |
9,359 |
|
31 December 2013 |
9,236 |
Agriculture Scheme Appeals
Questions (172)
Pat Breen
Question:172. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8417/14]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has now verified that an appeal from the person concerned in relation to the notional milk yield utilised when valuing reactor animals removed during a TB restriction spanning May 2012 to October 2012 has not been responded to due to an oversight, which is regretted. The matter is being followed up with a view to a response issuing as a matter of urgency.
Single Payment Scheme Appeals
Questions (173)
Pat Breen
Question:173. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8418/14]
View answerWritten answers
A review of the lands declared by the person named under the Single Payment Scheme in 2012 and 2013 revealed that a number of land parcels declared contained ineligible features.
In order to clarify the position regarding the area of the ineligible features my Department arranged for a ground verification check to be undertaken. This verification check has been completed and the results are now being finalised. The person named will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.
In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of this verification check, the decision can be appealed to the independent LPIS Appeals Committee.
Rural Environment Protection Scheme Appeals
Questions (174)
Pat Breen
Question:174. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for a REP scheme 4 claw back appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8419/14]
View answerWritten answers
The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the full six 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. According to the Terms and Condition of the Scheme “Farmers must make a valid application and carry out their farming activities in accordance with an Agri-environmental Plan prepared by an approved Planner respecting all relevant EU requirements and national legislation for the time being in force”. In 2011 the person named disposed of 6.57 hectares of the 27.35 hectares of land eligible for payment under REPS. This resulted in the application of a clawback of monies paid. The person named has lodged an appeal and the matter is currently the subject of a review by my Department. A decision will be issued to the person named shortly.
Single Payment Scheme Appeals
Questions (175)
Pat Breen
Question:175. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision on a dual claim appeal will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8420/14]
View answerWritten answers
An application under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 5 March 2013. Initial processing revealed that one of the land parcels declared had also been declared by another Scheme applicant. In keeping with standard procedures both parties were written to and asked to confirm their entitlement to claim the said parcel. In response the person named confirmed that he did not have the right. Accordingly he was advised of the appropriate penalty under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme. Having unsuccessfully appealed this decision, the person named has since availed of his right of appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office. That Office is currently adjudicating on his appeal and dealing directly with the person named in this regard.
Single Payment Scheme Payments
Questions (176)
Pat Breen
Question:176. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision on area based payments will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8421/14]
View answerWritten answers
The person named submitted an application under the 2013 Single Payment and Disadvantaged Area Schemes on 18th April 2013. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases, land eligibility inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application concerned was one of a number which was selected for inspection. The application was initially examined via remote sensing (Satellite Inspection). An over claim was determined on one parcel which was sent for ground inspection.
The ground inspection process confirmed an over claim of greater than 3% but less than 20% in this case. The person named was notified of this decision by letter on 7th November 2013 and was also informed of his right to seek a review of this decision. To date there is no record of an appeal having been received in my Department. The advance and balancing payments due under the SPS issued on 12th November and 2nd December 2013 respectively based on the reduced eligible area.