Written Answers Nos. 196 - 204
196. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an indicative time scale for approved projects of pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy programme 2014-2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9810/14]
View answerThe development of a new Rural Development Programme (RDP) under Pillar 2 of the new Common Agricultural Policy will be a key support in enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, achieving more sustainable management of natural resources and ensuring a more balanced development of rural areas. On 14 January, I announced details in relation to proposed measures for inclusion in the new RDP. These proposed measures are now the subject of a public consultation. Following examination of the feedback received as part of this consultation, an ex-ante evaluation incorporating a Strategic Environmental Analysis and an Appropriate Assessment will be carried out on the proposed RDP measures by independent, external evaluators.
In keeping with the timelines agreed at EU level, it is intended to submit a draft of the new RDP to the European Commission in the second quarter of 2014. This draft will then form the basis for detailed discussions over a number of months with the European Commission. Once the RDP has been agreed with the Commission, approved measures will be launched in accordance with the normal annual budgetary procedures. It is expected that the first approved measures will be launched in 2014, with other measures coming on stream in 2015.
197. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied); the actions he plans or has instigated to overcome the major problems being encountered by a young farmer seeking to supplement an income for their family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9815/14]
View answerThe definition of ‘young farmer’ under the new Direct Payments Regulation that will come into force in 2015 includes the criteria that such persons are aged 40 or less in their first year of application and that they have established their holding within five years of their first application under the Basic Payment Scheme. Persons who meet the definition of ‘young farmer’ under the new Direct Payment Regulation will be eligible both to apply to the National Reserve for an allocation of new entitlements or a top-up on the value of existing entitlements and also to participate in the Young Farmers Scheme. The essential purpose of the ‘young farmer’ category under the Direct Payment Regulation is to assist young farmers in the initial stages of establishing a farming enterprise in their own name and to encourage generational renewal. It is for this reason that the payment is restricted to those who are establishing or have established such a holding in the previous five years. Based on the information supplied, it would seem that the person concerned does not meet the criteria to qualify as a young farmer for the purposes of Direct Payments.
In January I also announced details in relation to the financing for the new Rural Development Programme (RDP), 2014-2020 as well as proposals for support measures under the RDP. The development of a new RDP will be a key support in enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, achieving more sustainable management of natural resources and ensuring a more balanced development of rural areas. The proposed measures include specific support for young farmers undertaking specific capital investments. However, a range of other measures have been proposed which will provide important supports for farmers regardless of whether they qualify as young farmers. These include a new Agri-Environmental and Climate Change Scheme (GLAS), continued support for farmers in Areas of Natural Constraint (formerly known as Less Favoured Areas), a range of knowledge transfer measures, support for on farm capital investment, a major new Beef Data and Genomics Programme, as well as a number of supports for collaborative and quality focused schemes. These proposed measures will provide key supports to farmers, including young farmers, and are currently the subject of an ongoing public consultation.
198. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding headage payments in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [9842/14]
View answerUnder 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, eligible applicants’ holdings were required to have satisfied minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units for a retention period of seven consecutive months, in addition to maintaining an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the twelve months of the scheme year. While the holding of the person named was confirmed as having satisfied the twelve-month average, it did not satisfy the seven month minimum requirement. Therefore, unfortunately, no payment is due to the person named under the 2013 Scheme.
199. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a farmer buys a farm in 2014 with entitlements and stock on it and they claim area aid on their own farm in 2013, can that farmer increase the new entitlements from 2015 onwards even though they did not have them in 2013. [9874/14]
View answerAny farmer who received a direct payment in 2013 (Single Payment, Grassland Sheep Scheme, Burren Life Scheme, Beef Data Scheme) has an automatic allocation right under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015. As the farmer in question did receive a direct payment in 2013 he holds an allocation right and will establish entitlements on his original farm.
The value of entitlements to be established in 2015 will be based on a percentage of the total value of entitlements held by the farmer in 2014. Any entitlements which the farmer in question purchases in 2014 will be combined with the value of the entitlements he currently holds and will be carried forward for the calculation of his entitlements in 2015.
The number of entitlements that will be established in 2015 for any farmer is based on the number of hectares the farmer declares in 2013 or 2015, whichever is less.
If the farmer in question purchases land and entitlements under the 2014 scheme year, he will benefit from receiving payment on those entitlements in that scheme year. However while the value of those entitlements will be carried over to 2015, he would not benefit from holding additional hectares. Entitlements would not be established on the purchased hectares and in 2015 the farmer would hold a small number of high value entitlements along with surplus land.
If however the purchase of the land and entitlements takes place after the closing date for the 2014 Scheme year, then the seller may enter into a Private Contract Clause with the buyer whereby he transfers both the land and the corresponding entitlements for the 2015 scheme year. The entitlements would be established in the account of the seller and would then be transferred to the buyer who would benefit from them under the 2015 scheme year and subsequent years.
To enter into such an agreement, the seller/lessor must have an ‘allocation right’ and must be an active farmer in 2015. The purchaser/lessee must be an active farmer.
200. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to dredge the harbour in Dunmore East to ensure ease of access of bigger fishing vessels to that harbour; if his Department has any plans to improve facilities at Dunmore East Harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9879/14]
View answerThe Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Capital Development Programme which my Department administers on an annual basis provides funding for capital works at the six Fishery Harbour Centres including Dunmore East.
As with other potential projects in the six Fishery Harbour Centres, dredging at Dunmore East will be considered for inclusion under the 2014 programme on the basis of available exchequer funding and competing priorities.
202. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total payments made to farmers in County Galway in 2010, 2011, 2012 and in 2013 under the disadvantaged areas scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9913/14]
View answerThe figures requested by the Deputy are as outlined in the following table.
Galway
|
Year |
Paid |
Amount |
|
2013 |
11,070 |
€23,063,212 |
|
2012 |
11,358 |
€24,625,887 |
|
2011 |
12,066 |
€26,076,491 |
|
2010 |
12,048 |
€26,043,156 |
203. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total payments made to farmers in County Roscommon in 2010, 2011, 2012 and in 2013 under the disadvantaged areas scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9914/14]
View answerThe figures requested by the Deputy are as outlined in the following table.
ROSCOMMON
|
Year |
Paid |
Amount |
|
2013 |
5,341 |
€11,191,034 |
|
2012 |
5,468 |
€12,027,249 |
|
2011 |
5,702 |
€12,385,095 |
|
2010 |
5,709 |
€12,408,799 |
204. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total payments made to farmers in County Leitrim in 2010, 2011, 2012 and in 2013 under the disadvantaged areas scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9915/14]
View answerThe figures requested by the Deputy are as outlined in the following table.
LEITRIM
|
Year |
Paid |
Amount |
|
2013 |
3,205 |
€7,000,237 |
|
2012 |
3,290 |
€7,381,428 |
|
2011 |
3,468 |
€7,697,018 |
|
2010 |
3,443 |
€7,627,014 |
