Written Answers Nos. 203-214
203. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 585 of 4 February 2014 and 292 of 19 December 2013, if he will furnish the corresponding figures for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12634/14]
View answerAs the 2013 inspections results are still being finalised, it is not possible to provide the comprehensive range of data requested by the Deputy at this time. The data will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
204. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the remaining 25% agri-environment options scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12637/14]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2011 and has received full entitlements 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 issue next week.
205. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how a person becomes qualified to teach equine transport competency; the steps required to be taken to establish a training company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12642/14]
View answerAny person interested in establishing a transport competency training course under Council Regulation (EC) 1 of 2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations must submit to my Department detailed proposals on training for consideration for approval as provided for in Article 17 of Council Regulation (EC) 1 of 2005. In particular, proposals should include course content and samples of proposed examinations, where appropriate, as well as the experience of the trainers in relation to the subject matter. Proposals should also detail method of delivery, duration of courses and cost per head. There are currently three categories of transport competence training available in Ireland. These are as follows:
(1) Competency training for drivers or attendants transporting animals of bovine, ovine, caprine or porcine animals on journeys over 65km;
(2) Competency training for drivers or attendants transporting poultry on journeys over 65km;
(3) Competency training for drivers or attendants transporting domestic equidae on journeys over 65km.
The Department will consider proposals for training courses in any of the categories mentioned above. The cost of training courses is borne by the participants.
206. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a break down of all moneys paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal who participated in the 2011 agri-environment options scheme with effect from 1 September 2011 in respect of the 2011 and 2012 scheme years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12724/14]
View answerThe person named received a total sum of €2,387.54 in respect of payments for the 2011 and 2012 Scheme years. The applicant was paid €274.19 in 2011 and €2,113.35 in 2012.
207. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to review the herring quota for small fishing vessels in the north-west fisheries in view of the impact this policy has had on many fishermen in the region; if he has reviewed the impact of this policy in terms of fish stocks and the local fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12725/14]
View answerThe policy in relation to the distribution of Herring was reviewed and finalised in June 2012 and included a detailed public consultation process. Following that process, an open fishery was established by the Minister in the North West for polyvalent vessels under 20m in length with 5% of the quota in Area VIa South.
I consider that the industry itself is best placed to advise me on the management of fishing opportunities, given the wide range of factors which contribute to the optimum usage of available quotas. In relation to the monthly allocation of fishing opportunities, my Department officials and the representative producer organisations in the industry, both fishermen and onshore processors, meet each month and industry representatives make recommendations to me in relation to the quota to be allocated in the coming month for whitefish and some pelagic fisheries, including the small vessel herring fishery in Area Vla. Fisheries Management Notice No 13 of 2014 which is currently in force has set a catch limit of 12 tonnes for under 20 meter vessels in this fishery for the combined two month period of March and April. This was recommended by Industry on 21 February 2014.
I will ask my Department to raise the Deputy’s proposal with the Industry at the monthly meeting when considering their recommendation on the catch limit to apply in the Under 20m vessel herring fishery in Area VIa for the Autumn, and I will then consider all the issues raised when making my decision on the matter.
208. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline co-funding arrangements for the rural development programme 2014-2020; if he is satisfied that the arrangements will maximise the available funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12726/14]
View answerAs you will be aware, on 14 January I announced a number of decisions in relation to the implementation of the new CAP. This included details in relation to proposed measure outlines for inclusion in the new Rural Development Programme (RDP) for the period 2014-2020 as well as an outline of the National Exchequer funding for the new RDP.
The agreement reached on the Multiannual Financial Framework provides for a total allocation of EU funding of €2.19 billion (€313m per annum over 7 years) to Ireland for a new RDP. Regulation 1305/2013 on Support for Rural Development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) provides that at least 5% of this allocation must be allocated to projects delivered under the LEADER mechanism. Following consultation with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, 7% of the available EU allocation (some €153 million) has been allocated to LEADER. Thus, €2.037 billion of the EU funding is allocated to measures to be delivered via the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The Government has shown its commitment to a strategic investment in Rural Ireland and the agri-food sector by providing matching National Exchequer funding at the rate of 46% to supplement the €2.037 billion EU allocation. In addition to this money, there is also an allocation of some €170 million from the current RDP to be spent in 2014 and 2015. When taken in conjunction with the allocation of funding for LEADER measures, this represents a fund of over €4 billion for investment in rural development measures in the period to 2020.
209. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports that are in place for members of the farming community who have had their lands damaged in recent flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12727/14]
View answerI recognise the difficulties and the hardship that have been experienced by the farming community as a result of the recent severe weather conditions. In response to this particularly bad spell of weather my Department put in place a number of supports to assist farmers who were adversely affected. For farmers who had concerns over animal welfare or were unable to feed their animals my Department provided an Animal Welfare Helpline, which is still in operation (Lo Call 1850 – 211990), which farmers could contact to seek help. In addition, my Department kept in contact with farm organisations through the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council, whose members on the ground were well placed to assess the situation.
I also requested that Teagasc provide practical advice to all farmers on steps which could be taken to deal with their particular problems. I know that some farmers were particularly concerned that slurry tanks were almost full and ground conditions not suitable for spreading and Teagasc advisers were on hand to provide advice on how to address such situations.
I welcome the improvement this week in the weather which should lead to an improvement in ground conditions. On drier ground, this will allow some field work to be carried out and provide opportunities to reduce pressure on slurry storage tanks and to apply some early fertiliser. Farmers still need to be careful to budget their remaining fodder stocks. I know that fodder reserves remain available within the country but it is critical that stocks are well managed and stretched as much as possible.
210. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if penalties will be imposed on farmers who have not been able to fulfil the criteria of various departmental schemes due to recent flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12728/14]
View answerI can confirm that the cases of those farmers whose holdings have been adversely affected by recent storms are eligible for consideration under Force Majeure provisions and will not be subject to the imposition of deductions and penalties for any land declared, which was damaged during the recent storms and flooding. Such cases will be dealt with sympathetically, on their merits, on a case by case base under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and other Direct Aid Schemes.
On the broader issue, I wish to reassure those farmers, who are anxious that if they did not have sufficient hectares to match their Single Farm Payment entitlements in 2014 arising from lands lost to the sea, it will have no impact on the level of payment entitlements allocated to them in 2015 under the new CAP Regime. Those farmers should be aware, that in the context of CAP Reform, decisions which I have taken in recent weeks provide protection for the payments of farmers.
In the first instance, a decision was made to use 2013 eligible land – or 2015 if it is lower – for the calculation of the number of new payment entitlements. This means that the number of entitlements allocated to farmers should correspond to the number of eligible hectares on the holding. In addition, the total value of the new entitlements allocated to farmers in 2015 will be based on the total value of entitlements - rather than payments - owned by farmers in 2014, irrespective of whether or not they were paid under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme. Therefore, there is no reason whatsoever why such farmers cannot fully benefit from payments under the CAP Reform Regime from 2015 onwards.
211. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she will publish the early years strategy. [12473/14]
View answerThe Early Years Strategy is one of a number of detailed strategies being developed under the National Children and Young People’s Policy Framework 2014-2018. This Framework, which is nearing finalisation, will set out the overall principles, vision and outcomes for children and young people and will guide actions across Government over the period 2014 to 2018. The Policy Framework will be published shortly and I expect that the Early Years Strategy will be finalised and published shortly thereafter.
212. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children nationally who are availed of the early childhood care and education scheme over a two year period; the number of children with special educational needs who were refused access to the ECCE scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12474/14]
View answerIn the periods September 2012 to June 2013, and September 2013 to June 2014, 261 and 232 children respectively were approved to avail of the free pre-school year over a two year period. All qualifying children who applied to my Department to avail of the free pre-school year on a pro-rata basis were approved for the provision.
213. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when work will be completed on the adoption information and tracing Bill; her views on whether the current facilities for adoptees wishing to find their birth parents are adequate; her views on whether the inability of adoptees to access their family's medical history is a major health concern for those involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12475/14]
View answerMy Department is continuing to work on the Heads of Bill for the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill and I hope to be in a position to seek Government approval to publish the Heads of Bill as soon as possible. As I have stated on a number of occasions it is important to note that complex legal and constitutional issues have arisen in the drafting of the Bill. A particular challenge has arisen in the attempt to reconcile an adopted person’s request for information about his or her identity with the right to privacy of his or her birth parent where consent has not been provided. My Department is continuing to consult with the Office of the Attorney General on this and on a number of related issues. One reason for the discussions with the Attorney General is to continue to tease out precisely how this can be done in the context of what I must state is extremely strong legal advice about the constitutional protection of the rights of the natural mother to privacy. I continue to explore how far the Government can go in building into legislation that right of the adopted person to get access to information without breaching the Constitution. This is the reason it is taking this length of time to draft the Heads of Bill. I intend to submit the Heads of Bill for Government approval as soon as these issues have been addressed.
I am not in a position to give a comprehensive account of the provisions of the proposed legislation until the Heads of Bill have been agreed by Government. Once approved by Government, the Heads of Bill will be sent to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for its detailed consideration. The process of sending the Heads of Bill to that Committee will ensure that the provisions of the proposed legislation will be subject to public scrutiny and it is of course open to that Committee to invite and encourage submissions from all interested parties. In the meantime I am open to any proposals or suggestions in relation to policy on this matter that assists in achieving as much access as possible in a manner that is legally and constitutionally sound.
I have been anxious to see improvements in existing procedures for the tracing of birth parents by people who have been adopted. The Child and Family Agency, which was established on 1st January last, has advised me that, in the first instance, any person seeking information on adoption should contact the Adoption Authority of Ireland or the Agency’s Community Services who will assist in directing them to the personnel dealing with their particular records. The existing arrangements for those seeking access to information reflect a transition from complex and historical situations and I am anxious that the Agency implement much more improved and consistent arrangements. I have been advised by the Agency that it is reorganising adoption services in 2014 at a national level, and will consider how best to deploy its staff to deal with this important issue so as to facilitate access to records where they exist.
The Adoption Act 2010, requirement that agencies providing Information and Tracing services would gain accreditation resulted in a number of religious orders deciding not to apply for accreditation and transferring records from their Mother and Baby Homes and Adoption Societies to the Agency. Work by the Agency on the organising and storage of these records has taken place. The advice of the National Archives has been sought in relation to the proper storage of these records that are of great significance.
I have raised the importance of arrangements for the management of these records directly with the Child and Family Agency and I have also asked my officials to examine the work that could be undertaken with the Child and Family Agency, the Adoption Authority and other stakeholders to improve arrangements for managing and accessing the records that are available.
214. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure that the rural clubs co-ordinator position within Youth Work Ireland, Galway, will continue to be funded; if her attention has been drawn to the valuable work of youth club workers in County Galway, covering a distance of over 100 km from Leitir Mor to Ballinasloe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12529/14]
View answer216. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is willing to review the allocation of funding to Youth Work Ireland, Galway for 2014 in view of the impact the current funding allocation for 2014 will have on its activities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12608/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 216 together.
My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. Targeted support for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund, Rounds 1 and 2, Local Drugs Task Force Projects and certain other programmes such as the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme and Youth Information Centres. In addition, some 31 national youth work organisations, including Youth Work Ireland, are supported under my Department's Youth Service Grant Scheme. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people and involve approximately, 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country. In 2014, funding of €50.530m including €750,000 for a new capital funding programmes has been provided to my Department for these schemes.
In 2014, funding of €124,626 has been allocated for three projects under the Special Projects for Youth Schemes (SPY) operated by Youth Work Ireland, Galway. These projects provide valuable services for young people in the area including Recreational Group Work programmes, In-school-Anti-bullying programmes, Summer Camps, Transition from Primary to Secondary programmes and programmes to promote confidence and self-esteem in young people. It also operates a number of rural youth clubs in the area. Funding of €47,163 has also been allocated in 2014 by my Department for a Youth Information Centre in Ballinasloe. I understand from Youth Work Ireland that it is providing an amount of €65,593 to Youth Work Ireland Galway in 2014 to support the delivery of youth work services at regional level. This funding is being provided from the annual grant-aid Youth Work Ireland receives from my Department under the Youth Service Grant Scheme.
In 2013, my Department provided €65,892 to the Galway area under the Local Youth Club Grants Scheme. Funding for this scheme is administered by Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board and supports the work of volunteer-led youth club activities at local level. It is anticipated that a similar level of funding will be provided for clubs in County Galway in 2014. The organisation of the provision of services is a matter for Galway Youth Services and Youth Work Ireland.
My Department, along with all government departments, is required to deliver substantial savings on all funding programmes in line with the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE). My Department, in determining the annual allocations for youth programmes, while having regard to the CRE, has sought to ensure that, as far as is possible, the focus is maintained on the front line youth services particularly those for the most vulnerable young people. This year, I secured an additional €1m in the 2014 Budget to offset the impact of the CRE on the youth services. As a result the overall reduction in 2014 budgets for the youth services at 3.75% was significantly less had been indicated in the CRE.
I am aware of the challenges that the budgetary constraints raise for the youth services throughout the country and its impact on services such as Youth Work Ireland, Galway. I, and officials of my Department have met and will continue to meet with many youth organisations and groups to try and see how we can work together to ensure the most effective and efficient use of the resources available in order to continue to support the provision of quality and responsive youth services for young people.
