Written Answers Nos. 174-180
174. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding inshore fisherman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12418/14]
View answerIn my response to Question No. 228 on 27 February 2014, I advised the Deputy that many (not all) vessels that were harbour bound due to the severe weather were able to return to fishing during some breaks in the weather during February. My response was based on the information on fleet activity available to my Department, which is derived from the EU vessel monitoring systems fitted to fishing vessels over 12 metres. There is no equivalent real time means of monitoring the activity of smaller inshore vessels. However, I am conscious that such smaller vessels are even more weather dependent than the fleet generally. Informal reports from local officers from the agencies of my Department indicate to me that there was very limited fishing by the under 10 metre fleet during February, and I heard similar advice from many inshore fishermen at the recent Expo in Galway. I understand that in the present spell of fine weather these vessels are now returning to potting for lobster and crab.
I also advised the Deputy in my response on 27 February that the Minister for Social Protection has overall responsibility for funding income support to individuals and families in all sectors who have been unable to work because of adverse weather conditions. That remains the case.
In addition, I advised the Deputy of the €8.8 million made available by Government to repair in excess of 100 piers, harbours and slipways linked to fisheries and aquaculture and the €1.5 million to assist small inshore fishermen with the cost of replacing pots lost on the storms. 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 the impact of the adverse weather in the early months of this year.
175. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form the reports, reviews and studies commissioned by him or his Department or agencies under the aegis of his Department since 9 March 2011; the date on which they were commissioned; the date on which they were completed; the date on which they were published; the cost of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12424/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is provided in the table. With regard to the State Bodies under my Department’s remit, any reports, reviews and studies are an operational matter for the State Bodies concerned.
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2011: March- December |
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- |
- |
- |
|
Consultant |
Title of Report |
Date of Commission |
Date or Expected Date of Publication |
Payments € |
|
University College Dublin |
EU School Fruit Scheme/Food Dude Programme in Ireland – A review of evaluations completed to date - Commission Regulation 288 of 2009 |
Sep-11 |
06-Feb-12 |
6,388 |
|
Drima Marketing Ltd |
Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JSFO) 2010 |
Mar-11 |
Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire - completed May 2011, |
12,792 |
|
- |
Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) 2010 |
- |
Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) 2011, published in 2010 Woodflow January 2012 |
- |
|
Market Report for Ireland for the Timber Committee 2010 |
UNECE report completed Sept 2011 |
|||
|
Rockwell Automation |
Hazard and Operability Study |
Nov-11 |
13-Dec-11 |
3,740 |
|
Accenture |
An analysis of an internal review of procurement. |
23-May-11 |
20-Sep-11 |
Work done on a pro-bono basis |
|
Accenture |
An examination of the opportunities and capacity for further shared services between the Department and its non-commercial state agencies. |
23-May-11 |
20-Sep-11 |
Work done on a pro-bono basis |
|
Accenture |
A review of the Department’s role in regulating meat plants |
23-May-11 |
20-Sep-11 |
Work done on a pro-bono basis |
|
KPMG |
An examination of the administration of the Single Payment Scheme. |
04-Jul-11 |
13-Oct-11 |
Work done on a pro-bono basis |
|
Fitzmaurice Tingle Ltd. |
Refrigeration Consultancy on 6 Fishery Harbour Centre Sites |
14-Oct-11 |
08-Nov-11 |
3,505 |
|
Brian Scott, 28 Portlock Gardens, Nailsea, Bristol, BS48 2QY, UK |
Port Security Assessment- Castleownbere Fishery Harbour Centre |
29-Sep-11 |
Nov-11 |
4,680 |
|
Deloitte Ireland |
To examine recommendations of the Report of the Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities as applicable to this Department, to value the assets referred to and to make recommendations |
Commissioned centrally end June/July 2011 |
Not applicable (For Internal Departmental information) |
Work done on a pro-bono basis |
|
Briggs Environmental Services |
Oil Spill Contingency Plans |
May-07 Rollover |
6 Reports from October 2010 to December 2010 for the 6 fishing harbour centres |
4,424 |
|
Deloitte Ireland |
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine – Annual Accounts Certification |
2010 Rollover |
Not for publication – Report is a requirement of EU legislation |
509,830 |
|
ESPION |
Independent assessments of the Department’s IT security measures and security review of the Department’s infrastructure |
IT security measures-quarterly. IT infrastructure security review - bi-annual. |
Not for external publication. Required for EU accreditation purposes. |
16,964 |
|
2012: January- December |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Drima Marketing Ltd |
Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JSFO) 2011 |
Mar-12 |
Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire - completed May 2012, |
12,792 |
|
- |
Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) 2011 |
- |
Joint Wood Energy Enquiry report published in 3 July 2012 |
- |
|
- |
Market Report for Ireland for the Timber Committee 2011 |
- |
UNECE report completed Sept 2012 |
- |
|
Indecon |
Review of certain aspects of the Irish Horse Racing Industry |
01-Mar-12 |
20-Jul-12 |
59,225 |
|
CMG Crime Management Ltd |
ISPS Port Security Plan- Castleownbere Fishery Harbour Centre |
25-May-12 |
Jun-12 |
3,198 |
|
Philip Farrelly & Co. Ltd |
Food Harvest 2020 – Environmental Analysis Report - Interim Payment |
12-Apr-12 |
Jan-14 |
172,207 |
|
CMG Crime Management Ltd |
ISPS Port Security Plan Castletownbere |
25-May-12 |
Jun-12 |
3,198 |
|
Team BDS |
Lean Review of the Meat Inspection Service |
10-Oct-12 |
Completed September 2013. Not published. |
98,597 |
|
Deloitte Ireland |
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine – Annual Accounts Certification |
2010 Annual Commission |
Not for publication – Report is a requirement of EU legislation |
514,169 |
|
Compass Informatics Ltd. |
Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine – GIS Review 2012/2013 |
11-Oct-12 |
Not for publication (For Internal Departmental information) |
23,419 |
|
ESPION |
Independent assessments of the Department’s IT security measures and security review of the Department’s infrastructure |
IT security measures-quarterly. IT infrastructure security review - bi-annual |
Not for external publication. Required for EU accreditation purposes. |
32,134 |
|
2013: January- December |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Norfolk Marine |
Survey works report to Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre |
13-Mar-13 |
Apr-13 |
10,828 |
|
Drima Marketing Ltd |
Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JSFO) 2012 |
13-Feb-13 |
Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire - completed May 2013, |
11,400 |
|
- |
Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) 2012 |
- |
Joint Wood Energy Enquiry report, published in 2012 Woodflow (July 2013) |
- |
|
- |
Market Report for Ireland for the UNECE Timber Committee 2011 |
- |
UNECE report completed in October 2013 |
- |
|
Indecon |
Review of certain matters relating to Bord na gCon |
13-Dec-13 |
On going |
60,885 (Due to be paid following completion of the review in 2014) |
|
Fitzpatrick Associates Economic Consultants |
Ex Ante Evaluation, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment of the 2014 – 2020 Rural Development Programme |
31-Jan-13 |
On going |
48,400 |
|
Philip Farrelly & Co. Ltd. Unit 5A Fingal Business Park Balbriggan Co. Dublin |
Food Harvest 2020 – Environmental Analysis Report - Final Payment |
12-Apr-13 |
Jan-14 |
57,403 |
|
Norfolk Marine Ltd |
Survey works report to Killybegs FHC |
13-Mar-13 |
Apr-13 |
10,828 |
|
Deloitte Ireland |
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine – Annual Accounts Certification |
2010 Annual Commission |
Not for publication – Report is a requirement of EU legislation |
468,277 |
|
ESPION |
Independent assessments of the Department’s IT security measures and security review of the Department’s infrastructure |
IT security measures-quarterly. IT infrastructure security review - bi-annual |
Not for external publication. Required for EU accreditation purposes |
18,825 |
|
NTA Monitor Limited |
Independent assessments of the Department’s IT security measures and security review of the Department’s infrastructure |
Independent assessments of the Department’s IT security measures and security review of the Department’s infrastructure |
Not for external publication. Required for EU accreditation purposes |
16,162 |
176. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application under the milk quota trading scheme, selling quota, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12442/14]
View answerThe closing date for receipt of applications to the second stage of the 2014-2015 Milk Quota Trading Scheme was 7 February 2014. An application from the named person was received in my Department before that date. The processing of the applications is now at an advanced stage, and I expect to be in a position to announce the results of the scheme at the end of March. At that time my Department will notify all Co-ops of the outcome of the scheme and they, in turn, will inform their participating suppliers of the outcome of their individual applications.
177. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the recent storm damage to forests, if he will provide compensation to farmers who are affected confining it to people who have had over 25% of their forestry knocked in the recent storm; if clear fell licences will be allowed for these farmers if they want a site to clear fell; if a replanting grant will be made available in these special cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12443/14]
View answerThe recent storms have indeed been damaging to Irish forests particularly in the south of the country. Early indications suggest however that less than 1% of the forest area and approximately 1% of the forest volume was blown down in the storm of 12 February. Whilst direct financial support is not being provided to those whose forestry was destroyed in the storm, a taskforce, chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, has been established to assess the damage nationally and to quickly identify the various issues arising as a result of this severe windblow event and to agree on a course of actions to deal with these issues. The taskforce has issued a guidance note for forest owners, laying down the steps to consider in safely harvesting and selling the fallen trees and giving advice on a range of other associated issues.
Teagasc forestry advisers are available to meet any forest owner in the Teagasc Office for advice. Forest owners are also urged to get professional advice from qualified foresters to guide them through this process. Furthermore, the Forest Service of my Department is also ready to facilitate those wishing to apply for felling licences to deal with the situation in the most appropriate manner. In this regard I would urge forest owners to mark their application ‘Storm Damage’ to allow it to be prioritised by the Forest Service.
178. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of a ground inspection in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [12444/14]
View answerA review of the lands declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme 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 recently 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.
179. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding REP scheme payments in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [12445/14]
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 accordingly is subject to EU Regulation which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. These checks have now been completed and the 75% payment in respect of Year 6 has been authorised and will issue within the next ten days. The remaining 25% balancing payment will issue shortly afterwards.
180. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for the 2013-14 temporary leasing quota phase 2 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12447/14]
View answerUnder the Temporary Leasing Scheme, milk producers may apply to lease that part of their milk quota, which they do not intend to use during the particular milk quota year. Such quota is then offered to other producers within the same Co-operative or Dairy who require additional quota. This scheme is run over two stages each year. The closing date for the second stage of the 2013-14 Temporary Leasing Scheme was 10 January 2014. The Scheme is operated, on behalf of my Department, by the Co-operatives/Dairies. Accordingly any information sought, in relation to the application of the named person, may be obtained by him through the relevant Co-operative/Dairy.
