Written Answers Nos. 894-912
894. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if compensation will be made available to dairy farmers who have to cull their animals with BVD disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13760/14]
View answer901. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason no compensation is given to small herd owners for the first calf removed from a herd for BVD; if he will consider extending this compensation to the first calf in herds of fewer than 20 suckler cows; the estimated extra cost of such a change to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13845/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 894 and 901 together.
The Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) eradication programme, the statutory basis for which is set out in S.I. 118 of 2014, requires that calves indicating an initial positive or inconclusive reaction to a test for the BVD virus be removed from the herd. I have made compensation available to suckler cow farmers who have multiple cases of persistently infected (PI) calves in their herds in order to encourage the early disposal of these calves. The compensation scheme offers these farmers €100 for the second and subsequent calves removed from suckler herds to a knackery. The compensation is confined to suckler herds because the “payback period” in these herds is much longer than for dairy herds: it is estimated that the benefit of the eradication of this disease to dairy farmers will exceed the cost involved after a period of 6 months, compared with 12 months for suckler herds.
The provision of compensation for calves culled under the compulsory phase of the BVD programme must be placed in the context of the low value of these animals, the economic benefits accruing to farmers arising from the eradication of this disease and, particularly, the short payback time involved for individual farmers as well as the scarce budgetary resources available to my Department. It has been estimated that the overall benefit of the eradication of this disease is beneficial to farmers in the short to medium term.
I have no plans to change the existing compensation arrangements.
895. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the stated objective of his Department in supporting artisan food producers, if he will cover the cost of additional TB and brucellosis testing imposed on farmers who sell small volumes of raw milk to cheese manufacturers as in many instances the small volumes of milk involved and the cost of the current regime of testing makes it financially impracticable for farmers to continue to supply such artisan food producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13777/14]
View answerSuppliers of milk for the production of pasteurised product are required to undergo an annual combined TB and brucellosis test. Herds supplying raw cows’ milk for the production of raw milk product on the other hand are required to undergo two tests per year, to be carried out at six monthly intervals. This testing regime has been in place for a number of years. It is important to note that my Department will pay for additional testing which is over and above the normal level of testing required under the TB and Brucellosis Schemes.
896. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are any grants or schemes available to farmers who intend to build sheds within the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13778/14]
View answerThe recent consultation paper prepared by my Department in relation to Ireland’s Rural Development Programme for 2014-2020 includes a commitment to the introduction of new grants for investments in farm buildings. These include the provision of slurry storage and animal housing whilst it is also proposed to provide additional grants for new dairy buildings under an enhanced grant scheme for young farmers. The young farmer scheme will involve a specific grant rate of 60 per cent compared to the standard grant rate of 40 per cent which will be generally available under the other on-farm investment schemes.
I would hope to be able to include further details in relation to these grants in the Rural Development Programme itself when it is finalised in the near future. EU Commission approval for the Programme will be required before any new national measures are introduced on the basis of the Programme. Accordingly, it is not possible at this stage to fix definitive dates for the introduction of the schemes concerned.
897. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures has he taken to secure live export markets for sheep since he came into office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13781/14]
View answerMy Department, in co-operation with Bord Bia and the Irish embassies, continues to actively support the development of both the live export trade and the beef trade through the provision of market information, developing market access and promotional activity. In terms of the performance of the sector in 2013, I am pleased to note that for the third consecutive year Irish sheep throughput grew, reaching 2.61 million head, a rise of 8%. These developments led to sheepmeat production rising by around 3% to stand just over 55,000 tonnes. The total value of Irish sheepmeat exports is estimated to have increased by over 4% in 2013 to reach €220m. The market outlook for Irish sheepmeat in 2014 looks reasonably stable as a result of ongoing tight EU sheep supplies and a reduced presence of New Zealand lamb. Average prices to date this year are almost 6% ahead of 2013.
On the export front I intend to drive further the search for new markets in 2014. My Department in consultation with the meat industry and in cooperation with Bord Bia and the Irish Embassies abroad is constantly pushing for new markets and opportunities. The need for alternative markets as a buffer against market volatility was obvious in the sheep export statistics for 2013. Because of the economic downturn in the UK and France our exports to those markets dipped but we were able to offset this loss with increased exports to Belgium, Germany and Sweden thereby showing a positive net result for the sector at the end of the year. In addition, veterinary certificates have been agreed with Libya and Singapore, which facilitate the live export of sheep to these destinations.
898. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 192 of 6 March 2014, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that greyhound owners who are against hare coursing, still have to register their greyhound for greyhound track racing with the Irish Coursing Club despite objecting to hare coursing on ethical grounds; if he understands the dilemma this places on persons who have to pay money to the ICC regardless of their position on hare coursing; if he will consider transferring greyhound registration from the ICC to Bord na gCon - the Greyhound Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13784/14]
View answerThe ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing.
The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) has been responsible for the Irish Greyhound Stud Book since 1923.
The ICC has established the appropriate structures in terms of personnel and information technology required to execute all registration matters and in addition, it is a member of the International Greyhound Stud Registries.
Both BNG and the ICC have responsibility for implementing the provisions of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011. In this regard the ICC promotes best practice in regard to breeding aspects and has assured my Department that it goes to great lengths to ensure the highest standards are adhered to.
Against this background, I have no plans to change the current arrangements for greyhound registrations.
899. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an existing dormant herd number can be reactivated in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13823/14]
View answerSince no stock had been tested in the herd referred to since 14 July 2005, it became dormant on the Department’s Animal Health Computer System on 11 January 2007.
The necessary application documentation has already issued to the person concerned from my Department’s Navan Office. When these have been returned, my Department will be in a position to make an assessment of eligibility for reactivation of the herdnumber.
900. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has been told they cannot sell animals at present. [13828/14]
View answerThe trading status of the herd belonging to the person concerned was suspended on 10 March 2014 pending the resolution of a number of discrepancies which were identified in the context of a TB test carried out in his holding on 10 February 2014.
Following examination of these discrepancies by the local District Veterinary Office in consultation with the keeper, my Department is now in a position to lift the herd suspension and the DVO notified the keeper to this effect on 24 March 2014.
902. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who participated in REP scheme 1, REPS 2, REPS, 3, REPS 4, AEOS 1, AEOS 2, AEOS 3 broken down on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13846/14]
View answerThe following tables detail the number of participants in REPS on a county basis:
|
County |
REPS1 |
REPS2 |
REPS3 |
REPS4 |
|
CARLOW |
404 |
396 |
604 |
304 |
|
CAVAN |
1790 |
1373 |
2001 |
1108 |
|
CLARE |
2554 |
1737 |
2528 |
1400 |
|
CORK |
3175 |
2761 |
4028 |
3515 |
|
DONEGAL |
2736 |
3207 |
3693 |
1919 |
|
DUBLIN |
139 |
84 |
107 |
53 |
|
GALWAY |
5531 |
4905 |
5461 |
2886 |
|
KERRY |
2188 |
2394 |
2985 |
2088 |
|
KILDARE |
810 |
429 |
592 |
372 |
|
KILKENNY |
994 |
831 |
1648 |
839 |
|
LAOIS |
1098 |
833 |
1185 |
782 |
|
LEITRIM |
1575 |
1328 |
1687 |
912 |
|
LIMERICK |
1550 |
1061 |
1748 |
1423 |
|
LONGFORD |
1248 |
964 |
895 |
678 |
|
LOUTH |
357 |
249 |
337 |
217 |
|
MAYO |
4949 |
4847 |
5469 |
2854 |
|
MEATH |
1161 |
748 |
1165 |
562 |
|
MONAGHAN |
1106 |
1041 |
1758 |
923 |
|
OFFALY |
1367 |
940 |
1350 |
727 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
2588 |
2034 |
2545 |
1457 |
|
SLIGO |
1457 |
1218 |
1641 |
943 |
|
TIPPERARY (NR) |
1237 |
854 |
1451 |
890 |
|
TIPPERARY (SR) |
1135 |
809 |
1419 |
1056 |
|
WATERFORD |
755 |
671 |
1115 |
699 |
|
WESTMEATH |
1540 |
1017 |
1333 |
746 |
|
WEXFORD |
1123 |
779 |
1339 |
828 |
|
WICKLOW |
486 |
472 |
781 |
406 |
|
Total |
45053 |
37982 |
50865 |
30587 |
The table below details the number of active participants in AEOS1, AEOS 2 and AEOS 3 on a County basis:
|
County |
AEOS I |
AEOS II |
AEOS III |
|
Carlow |
98 |
31 |
25 |
|
Cavan |
229 |
174 |
134 |
|
Clare |
385 |
372 |
359 |
|
Cork |
490 |
354 |
309 |
|
Donegal |
662 |
887 |
1053 |
|
Dublin |
17 |
7 |
5 |
|
Galway |
851 |
814 |
1007 |
|
Kerry |
353 |
367 |
623 |
|
Kildare |
78 |
34 |
15 |
|
Kilkenny |
267 |
112 |
31 |
|
Laois |
167 |
69 |
25 |
|
Leitrim |
395 |
231 |
275 |
|
Limerick |
260 |
202 |
113 |
|
Longford |
117 |
84 |
41 |
|
Louth |
58 |
32 |
23 |
|
Mayo |
965 |
890 |
994 |
|
Meath |
176 |
71 |
32 |
|
Monaghan |
219 |
109 |
66 |
|
Offaly |
140 |
85 |
67 |
|
Roscommon |
400 |
342 |
272 |
|
Sligo |
297 |
202 |
222 |
|
Tipperary |
389 |
246 |
91 |
|
Waterford |
144 |
48 |
54 |
|
Westmeath |
231 |
103 |
55 |
|
Wexford |
191 |
83 |
27 |
|
Wicklow |
102 |
56 |
45 |
|
Grand Total |
7681 |
6005 |
5963 |
903. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who received disadvantaged area scheme payments in each county in 2012 or 2013, whichever year has most up-to-date data available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13847/14]
View answerPayments under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme begin issuing, on target, on 25 September. While there is no regulatory date by which DAS payments must commence, it is generally recognised and indeed acknowledged in the Farmers’ Charter, that the third week in September of any given year is the earliest feasible payment date, given the volume and complexity of processing involved. To date, payments worth €199.1 million have issued to over 94,000 farmers.
Payments continue to issue on a weekly basis, with individual cases being paid the amount due as they are confirmed eligible. It should be appreciated, however, that many applicants, who declare land situated in a Disadvantaged Area are not eligible for payment under the Scheme. Many of these applicants do not maintain any animals and those that do maintain animals do not keep sufficient livestock to meet the minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units per hectare. This is a normal feature of the Disadvantaged Area Scheme.
Successive EU audits have made it clear that payments should not issue under Area Based schemes, including Single Farm and Disadvantaged Areas, until all queries associated with an application are resolved.
The payment position, on a county basis, is as outlined below.
2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme
|
County |
Paid |
Amount |
|
Carlow |
697 |
€1,361,659.01 |
|
Cavan |
4,565 |
€9,436,332.32 |
|
Clare |
5,745 |
€13,008,871.66 |
|
Cork |
6,599 |
€14,518,239.93 |
|
Donegal |
7,672 |
€17,538,305.11 |
|
Dublin |
113 |
€247,421.83 |
|
Galway |
11,143 |
€23,197,259.53 |
|
Kerry |
7,118 |
€16,776,899.53 |
|
Kildare |
451 |
€757,654.89 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,642 |
€3,247,464.83 |
|
Laois |
1,586 |
€2,987,307.60 |
|
Leitrim |
3,227 |
€7,043,841.82 |
|
Limerick |
2,677 |
€4,937,451.36 |
|
Longford |
2,243 |
€4,647,079.76 |
|
Louth |
679 |
€1,098,758.96 |
|
Mayo |
10,694 |
€22,287,185.84 |
|
Meath |
1,233 |
€2,111,583.49 |
|
Monaghan |
3,848 |
€7,286,705.46 |
|
Offaly |
2,228 |
€4,160,916.39 |
|
Roscommon |
5,361 |
€11,220,481.84 |
|
Sligo |
3,746 |
€7,836,540.71 |
|
Tipperary |
4,167 |
€8,394,055.92 |
|
Waterford |
1,307 |
€2,532,622.30 |
|
Westmeath |
2,467 |
€4,646,904.11 |
|
Wexford |
1,275 |
€2,213,040.68 |
|
Wicklow |
1,614 |
€3,780,421.60 |
904. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who were paid the single farm payment in each county in 2012 or 2013, whichever year has the most up-to-date data available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13848/14]
View answerPayments under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme begin issuing, on target, on 16 October. To date payments worth nearly €1.2 billion have issued to 122,659 applicants. An additional 631 applicants remain to be paid.
All of those who have yet to be paid have been contacted by Department in relation to various queries which must be resolved prior to payment being issued.
Payments continue to issue on a weekly basis, as individual cases are confirmed eligible for payment.
Successive EU audits have made it clear that payments should not issue under Area Based schemes, including Single Payment Scheme, until all queries associated with an application are resolved.
The payment position, on a county basis, is as outlined below.
2013 Single Payment Scheme
|
County |
Paid |
Amount |
|
Carlow |
1,611 |
€24,035,244.61 |
|
Cavan |
4,680 |
€34,963,867.68 |
|
Clare |
5,995 |
€47,103,210.38 |
|
Cork |
12,753 |
€163,618,201.76 |
|
Donegal |
7,925 |
€46,982,877.49 |
|
Dublin |
11,709 |
€78,055,285.07 |
|
Galway |
7,542 |
€56,995,446.78 |
|
Kerry |
2,029 |
€30,975,209.02 |
|
Kildare |
3293 |
€17,046,834.77 |
|
Kilkenny |
5,022 |
€51,026,121.51 |
|
Laois |
1,477 |
€19,463,298.35 |
|
Leitrim |
11,223 |
€58,791,055.58 |
|
Limerick |
3,688 |
€54,434,914.83 |
|
Longford |
2,984 |
€35,863,694.18 |
|
Louth |
5571 |
€39,908,083.06 |
|
Mayo |
3,872 |
€22,322,173.47 |
|
Meath |
6,843 |
€99,355,030.37 |
|
Monaghan |
2,372 |
€38,203,131.86 |
|
Offaly |
2,885 |
€32,952,259.67 |
|
Roscommon |
3,978 |
€59,992,957.49 |
|
Sligo |
2,054 |
€27,413,586.88 |
|
Tipperary |
3,410 |
€53,966,801.26 |
|
Waterford |
607 |
€8,928,191.80 |
|
Westmeath |
3,926 |
€30,213,628.91 |
|
Wexford |
2,310 |
€19,442,452.47 |
|
Wicklow |
2,900 |
€40,154,647.32 |
|
Total |
122,659 |
€1,192,208,207 |
905. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of Polish beef being imported for further processing in meat plants; if this beef is sold on the Irish market or re-exported; the meat processors that are importing this beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13849/14]
View answerCSO figures show that 445 tonnes of beef were imported into Ireland from Poland in 2013. This figure is about 10% of the volume of beef which we exported from Ireland to Poland. Typically, beef imports from Poland are made up of lower value manufacturing product or carcass beef, which undergoes some further processing by Irish companies before re-export. Imported Polish beef is generally not destined for the domestic Irish market. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, I am not in a position to identify the companies concerned.
Rules on the labelling of meat and meat products are laid down in EU legislation. For beef, the current rules require compulsory origin labelling, with place of birth, rearing and slaughter specified. There is no evidence to suggest that third country beef is being imported into Ireland and processed and labelled as Irish beef.
An annual audit of imported products is carried out in each meat plant by my Department. The audit includes physical identity, labelling and documentary checks. This includes product originating both in EU Member States and third countries. In addition, labelling and documentary checks form part of the routine checks conducted by Department officials.
Checks are also conducted at retail level by the Health Service Executive (HSE), working under the aegis of the FSAI which has an overarching supervisory role in relation to labelling matters.
906. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Michelle O’Neill, MLA, in the past three months on the sale of cattle from this jurisdiction to both farmers and meat processors in Northern Ireland; if he has expressed any concern to her over the operation of the free market between these jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13850/14]
View answerThe trading of cattle between here and Northern Ireland is a function of the market and neither I nor my counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive have any role in it, save for ensuring compliance with relevant regulations in relation to animal health and disease issues. Ultimately it is a matter for farmers in both jurisdictions to decide for themselves where their best advantage lies with regard to buying and selling their animals. In the same way, questions of price and market specification are matters to be determined between the purchasers and the sellers of cattle and it is neither appropriate nor possible for me to intervene directly on these issues. While I do meet and discuss issues of common interest periodically in the North-South Ministerial Council and other fora with Michelle O’Neill and other Northern Irish Ministers, it is not within our gift to change or influence the trade in cattle between our jurisdictions.
I am of course aware that there are difficulties currently in the sale of cattle from here to Northern Ireland because of price differentials arising from constraints brought about by the labelling system operated by the UK retail chains in relation to cattle born in this country and exported live for finishing and processing there. The retailers’ long-standing policy is to market UK and Irish beef separately. This means that beef must be sourced from animals originating in one country; i.e. born, reared and slaughtered in the same country, thus decreasing the attractiveness of Irish born cattle for Northern Irish meat plants whose customers are large UK retailers. In addition, logistical difficulties arise when a small number of Irish-born animals are slaughtered in a UK meat plant. Under mandatory EU labelling rules, these carcasses have to be deboned in a separate batch, packaged and labelled accordingly, thereby incurring additional costs for the processor.
While Bord Bia has repeatedly raised the issue of stocking beef from Irish born cattle slaughtered in the UK with British retailers over the years, there are no indications that their marketing policy is likely to be reversed soon. Nevertheless, Bord Bia in its ongoing interactions with British customers will continue to pursue all opportunities to maximise the full potential of the beef and livestock trade with our largest trading partner.
907. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers broken down by county who were paid for participating in the beef technology scheme 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13851/14]
View answerThe 2013 Beef Technology Adoption Programme payment by county is outlined in tabular format below.
|
County |
Cases Paid |
County |
Cases Paid |
|
Carlow |
85 |
Longford |
147 |
|
Cavan |
206 |
Louth |
42 |
|
Clare |
294 |
Mayo |
781 |
|
Cork |
512 |
Meath |
115 |
|
Donegal |
366 |
Monaghan |
147 |
|
Dublin |
5 |
Offaly |
158 |
|
Galway |
678 |
Roscommon |
359 |
|
Kerry |
304 |
Sligo |
211 |
|
Kildare |
95 |
Tipperary |
384 |
|
Kilkenny |
216 |
Waterford |
138 |
|
Laois |
179 |
Westmeath |
179 |
|
Leitrim |
240 |
Wexford |
203 |
|
Limerick |
285 |
Wicklow |
83 |
|
County |
Cases Paid |
Amount Paid |
|
Carlow |
85 |
€70,125.00 |
|
Cavan |
206 |
€169,950.00 |
|
Clare |
294 |
€242,550.00 |
|
Cork |
512 |
€422,400.00 |
|
Donegal |
366 |
€301,950.00 |
|
Dublin |
5 |
€4,125.00 |
|
Galway |
678 |
€559,350.00 |
|
Kerry |
304 |
€250,800.00 |
|
Kildare |
95 |
€78,375.00 |
|
Kilkenny |
216 |
€178,200.00 |
|
Laois |
179 |
€147,675.00 |
|
Leitrim |
240 |
€198,000.00 |
|
Limerick |
285 |
€235,125.00 |
|
Longford |
147 |
€121,275.00 |
|
Louth |
42 |
€34,650.00 |
|
Mayo |
781 |
€644,325.00 |
|
Meath |
115 |
€94,875.00 |
|
Monaghan |
147 |
€121,275.00 |
|
Offaly |
158 |
€130,350.00 |
|
Roscommon |
359 |
€296,175.00 |
|
Sligo |
211 |
€174,075.00 |
|
Tipperary |
384 |
€316,800.00 |
|
Waterford |
138 |
€113,850.00 |
|
Westmeath |
179 |
€147,675.00 |
|
Wexford |
203 |
€167,475.00 |
|
Wicklow |
83 |
€68,475.00 |
|
6412 |
€5,289,900.00 |
908. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers broken down by county who were paid for the suckler cow welfare scheme in the most recent year for which data is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13852/14]
View answerThe following tabular statement provides details of the applicants and amounts paid by county for calves born during 2012, which was the final year of the five-year Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme.
|
County |
Number of Applicants paid |
Amount paid |
|
CARLOW |
390 |
€393,871 |
|
CAVAN |
1,376 |
€1,027,321 |
|
CLARE |
2,280 |
€1,781,408 |
|
CORK |
1,897 |
€1,595,034 |
|
DONEGAL |
1,722 |
€928,644 |
|
DUBLIN |
55 |
€46,210 |
|
GALWAY |
3,392 |
€2,380,381 |
|
KERRY |
1,414 |
€90,6374 |
|
KILDARE |
337 |
€363,529 |
|
KILKENNY |
813 |
€909,823 |
|
LAOIS |
727 |
€761,283 |
|
LEITRIM |
1,214 |
€610,907 |
|
LIMERICK |
796 |
€684,194 |
|
LONGFORD |
794 |
€601,866 |
|
LOUTH |
240 |
€222,142 |
|
MAYO |
3,109 |
€1,699,055 |
|
MEATH |
614 |
€653,526 |
|
MONAGHAN |
992 |
€685,883 |
|
OFFALY |
682 |
€675,175 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
1,770 |
€1,212,336 |
|
SLIGO |
1,205 |
€689,431 |
|
TIPPERARY |
1,319 |
€1,462,373 |
|
WATERFORD |
452 |
€563,981 |
|
WESTMEATH |
789 |
€785,142 |
|
WEXFORD |
668 |
€731,295 |
|
WICKLOW |
456 |
€450,757 |
|
Total |
29,503 |
€22,821,941 |
909. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will prioritise funding for dredging the harbour in Dunmore East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13854/14]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that on 20 of March I announced funding of €4 million for dredging works at Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre under the 2014 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. I expect work to commence over the summer following a public tendering process.
910. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite an agri-environment options scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13860/14]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 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 AEOS 3 in respect of 2013 will commence shortly.
911. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an area based compensation application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [13865/14]
View answerA review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that one of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. The person named was notified of the position in a letter dated 17 October 2013.
To date no appeal has been received. Payment in respect of the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 6 February 2014 based on the reduced eligible area.
912. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application under the 2013 single payment scheme and disadvantaged areas scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13906/14]
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 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.
