Written Answers Nos. 588-611
588. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether farmers from outside disadvantaged areas should not be allowed to rent commonages or private mountains in disadvantaged areas to qualify for payments, as this is distorting completely the situation with regard to local farmers who are genuinely farming the locality and want to make a living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9273/14]
View answerThe Terms & Conditions of the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme require that land declared by all applicants must be farmed and managed by the applicants. Where the applicant is not the owner of the land, the applicant must have the permission of the owner of the land to farm and manage the land. The land must be suitable for and compatible with the applicant’s farming enterprise. The legal right to claim on commonage which is held as a grazing right, as distinct to those commonages registered in undivided shares, is restrictive. To claim grazing rights on a commonage, applicants must be also claiming the owned (green land) to which the grazing right is appurtenant. It would normally be the case that the area (share) of the commonage to be claimed, would be proportionate to the amount of green land to which such right is appurtenant, having taken account of all other appurtenances relating to the said commonage.
589. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the fact that a group of farmers (details supplied) believe that the new GLAS is unworkable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9274/14]
View answerI announced details of the new GLAS (Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme) and GLAS+ Scheme on the 14th of January 2014 as part of a suite of proposed measures under the new Rural Development Programme. I also invited written submissions on the proposed Scheme as part of the ongoing consultative process in place since December 2012.
The final date for receipt for written submissions was the 19th February 2014 and submissions received, including the views of this group of farmers, will now be assessed and will inform final decisions on the GLAS Scheme.
590. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the grassland payment will be retained and improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9275/14]
View answerFurther to the reply furnished to the Deputy in PQ 7824/14 on 18th February, I confirm that there is no legal basis for the continuation of the Grassland Sheep Scheme in its present form. The funding for that Scheme became available through the use of unused funds under the Single Payment Scheme. As of the 1 January 2015 the Regulation that governed the Single Payment Scheme is superseded by EU Regulation 1307/2013 which introduces the new Basic Payment Scheme and related schemes.
The option to incorporate the value of the payments received under the Grassland Sheep Scheme into the value of the entitlements that will be allocated to sheep farmers is designed to safeguard these payments for such farmers. The implementation of this option in Ireland effectively ring-fences this significant fund for sheep farmers which otherwise would be distributed generally to the value of entitlements held by all farmers.
As previously noted sheep farmers generally hold low value entitlements under the current Single Payment Scheme and will benefit significantly from the model of convergence that is to be applied in Ireland where those with a low Initial Unit Value will see the value of their entitlements increase over the period of the scheme.
The incorporation of the Grassland Sheep Scheme payment into the calculation of a farmer’s Initial Unit Value in 2015 will obviously result in a higher entitlement value for the farmers concerned from the start of the Scheme rather than relying solely on the gradual process of convergence to increase the unit value over the five year period up to 2019. Our analysis confirms that as a result of this provision the group of farmers who receive the Grassland Sheep Scheme will have the immediate benefit of an additional €10.3 million in 2015 as part of their payment under the Basic Payment Scheme.
591. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress there has been in attracting further foreign interests to invest in the thoroughbred and bloodstock sectors here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9296/14]
View answerIrish bloodstock is held in very high regard internationally. Approximately 14,000 people are employed in the thoroughbred industry in Ireland. The value of the industry is estimated at almost €1.1bn annually and it attracts significant inward investment to the country.
Irish Thoroughbred Marketing is proving adept at building markets overseas and driving inward investment. I believe there is great potential to grow the international market for Irish bloodstock in new and emerging markets, and to attract further inward investment.
I understand from Irish Thoroughbred Marketing that the following are some foreign investments that have been made in the thoroughbred and bloodstock sectors in Ireland in 2013 and to date in 2014:
Inward Investment:
USA
- A North American investor purchased an historic estate in Co. Meath, in 2013, with the intention of transforming it from an agricultural farm into a thoroughbred stud farm.
QATAR
- A Qatar businessman purchased a prestigious stud in Co. Limerick in 2013. This investment will maintain employment and also represents an opportunity for further investment in Irish bloodstock as breeding stock is purchased for the farm.
- At last year’s Goffs Orby Sale, Ireland’s premier yearling sale, a member of the Qatari ruling family who owns a stud farm in County Limerick invested €2m in the purchase of 15 yearlings.
- Again at last year’s Goffs Orby Sale, another Qatar national invested €2 million in 6 yearlings, purchased through the Irish-based bloodstock agents.
- During the Ministerial Trade Mission to the Gulf States in 2013, I, together with, ITM and HRI representatives met with these individuals to acknowledge their significant investment in Ireland.
CHINA
- In 2013, a leading figure in Chinese racing invested in 10 yearlings at the Goffs Orby sale, for €300,000 in total. These yearlings remained in Ireland for pre-training and were then dispersed amongst four Irish trainers. This owner already had two horses in training in Ireland.
- In January 2014, a group of Chinese buyers purchased 12 horses for export to China. These horses will be the first shipment under the new Veterinary Protocol between Ireland and China, which was agreed between my Department and the Chinese Authority AQSIQ in 2013, and allows for the direct export of horses from Ireland to China. As a result of this Protocol, three further Chinese groups plan to travel to Ireland to purchase horses later this year.
SOUTH AMERICA
- Investment in Irish breeding stock from South American investors topped €1m in 2013, following their purchases at the Goffs November Sale last year. With an ITM market visit to South America planned in March 2014, the plan is to build on this figure in 2014.
- So far in 2014, there has been one International bloodstock sale in Ireland – The Goffs February Mixed Sale. This sale saw buyers from Libya, India, Russia, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, etc. which helped to boost turnover for the sale by 46% on the previous year.
- The Aggregate for the total amount of bloodstock sold at public auction in Ireland, in 2012, was €93 million, this figure increased to €133 million in 2013 (representing a 43% increase), with exports to 37 countries.
UPCOMING TRADE MISSIONS
- In the first quarter of 2014, ITM will undertake Trade Missions to –
- UAE
- Qatar
- Dubai
- South America
- Singapore
Later in 2014, Market visits will also be made to China, Hong Kong, India, South Africa, USA, Mainland Europe, etc., with several Market Visits to the UK, maintaining and building on trade with Ireland’s largest market for bloodstock
These very encouraging developments are testament to the regard in which Irish bloodstock is held internationally and also reflect the efforts of both the Irish sales companies and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing.
592. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the land held by a sporting body (details supplied) in Dublin 7 was originally provided by the Land Commission, upon the distribution of the old Monck Estate with a trust set up to oversee the management of the land and the trustees originally appointed by him and registered as legal owners of the land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9332/14]
View answer593. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is responsible for overseeing the administration of a sporting body (details supplied) and similar trusts, that is, for replacing trustees, arbitrating in disputes and so forth; in the event that this is such a trust, if he will provide a copy of the trust deed which may be dated from the period 1934–1936; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9333/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 592 and 593 together.
My officials have checked the records of the Land Commission and, on the basis of the information provided, have found nothing to indicate that this property was ever part of a trust set up under the Land Acts.
594. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of a single farm payment 2013 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9339/14]
View answerThe 50% advance payment of the 2013 Single Payment Scheme issued on 16 October 2013, with the balancing payment issuing on 11 February 2014, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
595. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 679 of 15 January 2014, when payment of REP scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9400/14]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in January 2010 and received payments for the first three 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 administrative check an area discrepancy was identified between the REPS Agri-environmental plan and the Single Farm Payment application for 2013 which required further investigation. This has now been resolved and the 2013 75% Year 4 payment has been authorised for payment and will issue within the next week. The remaining 25% Year 4 balancing payment will issue shortly afterwards.
596. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on the review of a single farm payment over claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8609/14]
View answerA review of the lands declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that one of the 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.
597. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will put in place a compensation scheme for farmers who suffered damage to uninsured farm buildings and equipment in recent storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8716/14]
View answerThere are no plans to introduce a specific compensation scheme for those farmers who suffered damage to their buildings or equipment as a result of the recent storms. In certain cases, however, such farmers may be able to apply for grant-aid under the on-farm investment schemes which will be introduced by my Department following the receipt of EU Commission approval for the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme. It is not possible to introduce a compensation scheme for all unforeseen events and I would urge farmers to familiarise themselves with insurance to cover all risk management issues such as injury, theft, weather related disasters and animal diseases.
598. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal under the single farm payment scheme for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9505/14]
View answer599. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal under the disadvantaged area payment scheme for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9506/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 598 and 599 together.
An application under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 10 May 2013, processing of which is not as yet finalised, owing to outstanding commonage issues. These outstanding issues will be resolved shortly with any payments which may fall due to the person named issuing shortly thereafter to the nominated bank account of the person named.
600. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area payment scheme 2013 payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9510/14]
View answerPayment in respect of the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued directly to the nominated bank account of the estate of the late registered owner of the herd number in question on 21 February 2014, following submission of flock register to verify the numbers of sheep on the holding during 2013.
601. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for cuts to the single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9521/14]
View answerThe applicant declared five commonage parcels. At an inspection in early 2013, three of the five parcels were deemed ineligible as they were not the subject of any agricultural activity. In these circumstances the reference areas of those three parcels was reduced to zero. This resulted in a reduced area of greater than 3%. Payment of SFP has issued to the person named on the basis of this reduced area.
602. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if under the proposals for the Common Fisheries Policy, moneys would be available for assistance in upgrading or buying new gear for fishermen badly affected by recent storm damage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9522/14]
View answer603. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to assist fishermen who have lost nets and gear or whose equipment has been badly damaged in the recent storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9523/14]
View answer606. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the assistance available to assist fishermen around the coast of Ireland and in particular the south west coast who have suffered significant losses as a result of the recent severe weather; if he will put in place an adequate compensation scheme for those who are facing financial ruin as a result of the recent bad weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9571/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 602, 603 and 606 together.
On 12 February 2014, I informed the House that as part of its overall co-ordinated response to the impact of the recent unprecedented weather conditions, the Government had decided to allocate an additional €8.8 million for the repair of the publicly owned pier, harbour and slipway network linked to fisheries and aquaculture and to allocate up to €1.5 million to assist inshore fishermen in replacing lobster and shrimp pots lost or destroyed in the storms.
While it is difficult to be definitive at this stage, following extensive consultation with local authorities, my engineers estimate that there are more than 100 pier, harbour and slipway projects involving significant damage across nine counties. In light of the additional funds now available my Department has, as of 18 February, invited applications for funding from Local Authorities in respect of projects which relate to the repair of public fishery and aquaculture related harbours, piers and slipways damaged in the recent storm events. The closure date for applications is Friday 28 February. This scheme will form an extended part my Department's 2014 capital programme which provides support for the maintenance and development of public piers and harbours on an annual basis. In 2014, priority will be given to projects which relate to the repair of public Fishery and Aquaculture related harbours, piers and slipways damaged in the recent storm events.
In addition to the funding to be provided to local authorities, my Department will be moving to repair storm damage to piers, harbours and coastal infrastructure in its direct ownership. This will include moving as quickly as possible to repair the significant storm damage to North Harbour in Cape Clear, West Cork; Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre, County Waterford; the Gun Rock beacon, Inisboffin, County Mayo; the West Cove navigational beacon, County Kerry; and Roonagh Pier, County Mayo.
In relation to inshore fishermen, a temporary one-off scheme of assistance to these pot fishermen is now available through Bord Iascaigh Mhara, with a closing date of 28 March 2014. The Scheme is focused on smaller inshore fishermen, with vessels under 15 metres. It provides a set amount of €24 per lobster pot lost or €12 per shrimp pot lost, equivalent to 40% of the replacement cost, and is capped at a maximum of 50 pots for under 12 metre vessels and 100 for under 15 metre vessels. A fisherman who has lost 100 pots at the replacement cost of approximately €6,000 will receive assistance of a little under €2,500. While I am conscious that some pot fishermen have reported losses of several hundred pots, I believe these are exceptional cases. The €1.5 million budget for this Scheme will be borne by the existing Vote within my Department and is not additional funding. There is no scope to increase this budget further, so I am emphasising that should applications exceed this budget, the rate of assistance will be reduced, either in terms of the amount of payment per pot or the maximum number of pots, in order to remain within a managed budget.
The Deputies will agree that these are significant interventions in the current economic circumstances and are a clear indication of this Government's commitment to assisting rural coastal communities and the inshore fishing sector with their recovery from the storms.
As income from fishing is derived from landings of catch, the amount that can be caught and therefore the income from most fisheries is determined by the EU quotas which are restrictive, and made available under our management arrangements with catch limits set for whitefish each month.
The quotas are managed to allow for access to quota for the full twelve months of the year, as far as possible. The quota uptake figures for January 2014 and for the first part of February are significantly down. In order that vessel owners and their crews are enabled to compensate as early as possible for these low catch levels, I have agreed with Industry to set allocations for March for a number of the key economic stocks at a higher level than in February. These increased quotas and fishing opportunities for March will help to re-balance the landings to bring them more into line with planned annual spread of quota uptake. They can be further adjusted in April to take into account of the low level of landings in the first 6 weeks of the year.
In relation to any specific payments to compensate for lost earnings, the Minister for Social Protection has the overall responsibility for funding income support to individuals and families in the circumstances that have arisen. Minister Burton’s Department runs a number of schemes to support people in circumstances of loss of income.
Under the Common Fisheries Policy, the proposed Regulation on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund will replace the present European Fisheries Fund, and is to cover the period 2014 – 2020. While the co-legislators have reached political agreement on the proposed EMFF Regulation, it will not be adopted in law until probably June this year. My Department is working to prepare a new Operational Programme for the seafood sector under the EMFF. That Programme is dependent on the progress of the proposed Regulation and so is likely to be finalised towards the end of the year. There are many potential investments in the proposed EMFF Regulation and Member States are not expected to include all in their operational programmes. Each member state must make investment choices, having regard to the finite allocation from the EMFF that each Member State will receive. I am working closely with all stakeholders in making those hard choices between many competing and worthwhile investment priorities. It is thus premature from both a legal and practical perspective to say at this time how the EMFF may assist fishermen with gear replacement or upgrade. Having said that, the elimination of discards and reducing the impact on the marine environment of fishing gear are key elements of the new CFP and I am committed to assisting fishermen in adjusting fishing practices to comply with these CFP rules. The proposed EMFF Regulation allows Member States to provide financial assistance with EMFF co-funding to fishermen towards the cost of gear that meets these policy objectives.
604. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision on their appeal for single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9525/14]
View answerThe 2013 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme application of the person named was selected for a remote sensing inspection.
This satellite inspection identified discrepancies between the area declared and the area found, resulting in an over-declaration in area of greater than 20%. This was confirmed by a ground inspection. Based on the Terms and Conditions of these schemes this resulted in no payment issuing in respect of the 2013 schemes.
The person named has appealed this decision and this request is currently being examined. The person named will be notified of the outcome of this review as soon as possible.
In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of this review, the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.
605. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will 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. [9535/14]
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 System (LPIS) Review an area discrepancy was identified which required further investigation. This has now been resolved and 2013 75% Year 6 payment has been authorised for payment and will issue within the next week. The remaining 25% Year 6 balancing payment will issue shortly afterwards.
607. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an agri-environment option scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9574/14]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 2011 and has received full payment in respect of the 2011 and 2012 Scheme years.
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 have been successfully completed in respect of the 2013 Scheme year and 75% payment in respect of 2013 issued to the person named on the 23rd January 2014. The balancing 25% payment will follow on shortly.
608. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm receipt of correspondence of the ERAD division from my office in respect of a person (detail supplied) in County Donegal; the reasons a reply has not been issued in respect of same; if the matter complained of has been investigated; if compensation will be awarded to the person in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9628/14]
View answerI can confirm receipt of the correspondence referred to. Due to an oversight, no response issued to this correspondence, which is regretted.
The background to this case is that a cow tested as part of the annual round test of the herd owned by the person concerned on 26 July 2013 showed a positive result for TB. This result was subsequently confirmed by means of an examination by a Department Veterinary Inspector and also by means of the appropriate blood test. Under relevant EU and national legislation designed to eradicate this disease, an animal which discloses a positive result to a TB test must be deemed a reactor and must be removed in a timely manner from the herd. I might add that the fact that TB lesions were not detected following slaughter of the animal in no way undermines the definitive nature of the above results.
The herdowner refused to co-operate with the normal arrangements in place for removal of the reactor on two occasions and also failed to comply with a 7 day statutory notice requiring him to arrange delivery of the animal to a slaughter plant. The reactor animal was eventually removed from the holding on 25 September in the presence of 3 members of An Garda Síochána and 4 Department staff.
Entitlement to compensation in the event of a TB disease breakdown is conditional on a herdowner complying with the provisions of the EU and national regulations governing the TB Eradication scheme. As the person named demonstrably refused to co-operate with the removal of the reactor, compensation was not paid in respect of the reactor removed.
The herd concerned is no longer restricted, having passed the requisite two clear tests, at 60 day intervals, from the date the reactor animal was removed from the holding.
609. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in processing an application for AEOS in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9629/14]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 2011 and has received full payment in respect of the 2011 and 2012 Scheme years.
The person named was selected for a ground inspection which took place on 7th November 2013. Following the ground inspection, additional documentation was requested and is still awaited. Once a satisfactory response is received the inspection report will be finalised and the application will be processed for payment for 2013.
610. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reasons for the delay in processing an application for the AEOS scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9630/14]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1st May 2013.
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.
611. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that forestry management regulations are being proposed as legislation prior to the publication of a draft of the proposed forestry policy; the proposed publication of the draft forestry policy; and the consultation time envisaged for the draft forestry policy. [9647/14]
View answerThe forest policy review has been completed and will be published shortly. As part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the review, consultation took place with statutory environmental authorities at scoping stage which was followed by a full consultation round open to the public. At the beginning of the review process there was a call for public submissions. There is no conflict between the recommendations on forest management plans in the forest policy and the proposals in the Forestry Bill.
