Written Answers Nos. 217-226
217. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a funding programme for farmers whose private land has been seriously damaged due to the recent flooding events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15857/14]
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. The recent welcome improvement in the weather 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.
218. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend invitations to the animal welfare conference he is hosting on 16 May 2014 in Dublin Castle to organisations which champion animal rights here. [15871/14]
View answerInvitations to the Animal Welfare Conference on 16 May next will be extended to up to 140 voluntary organisations involved with animal care. Regulatory bodies including An Garda Síochána will also be in attendance.
219. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding BVD samples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15879/14]
View answerThe arrangements in regard to postage of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) samples are set out clearly in the detailed communications to farmers provided by Animal Health Ireland. The private laboratories engaged in the testing of samples operate under a protocol agreed by the BVD Implementation Group which is the body overseeing this industry led programme.
221. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce installation aid for young farmers; if such aid will be available to farmers who have already commenced farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15904/14]
View answerThe consultation paper prepared by my Department in relation to the proposed measures for inclusion in Ireland’s Rural Development programme for 2014-2020 includes a commitment to the introduction of an enhanced grant scheme for young farmers who invest in farm infrastructure, with a specific grant rate of 60 per cent compared to the standard grant rate of 40 per cent which will be generally available under other on-farm investment schemes. Within the limits of the EU provisions governing the new Rural Development Programme, I will be endeavouring to ensure that as many young farmers as possible can avail of the enhanced grant scheme when the national measures are introduced following receipt of the required EU Commission approval for the Programme.
222. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the tests of failed nets and mooring equipment repeatedly sought from the operators-manufacturers of two fish farms in 2010 in Inver Bay and Clew Bay after the escape of more than 25,000 salmon do not appear on the files of the investigation at the time of the final reports; and if he will ensure that these tests are in fact obtained and made publicly available. [15938/14]
View answer223. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it has been brought to his attention that his Department’s engineering division report concluded that the failure of his Department to ensure that the licensing conditions requiring operators to take all necessary steps to prevent the escape of fish, through ensuring that rigorous monitoring systems were in place for checking and inspecting possible progressive damage to fish farm structures with detailed records available for inspection, was the likely cause of the escape of 25,000 adult salmon in Inver Bay and Clew Bay in November 2010; and the measures he has put in place to address this issue. [15939/14]
View answer224. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that repeated reports from his Department’s engineering division have recommended that certified quality standards be set for all fish farm components at the manufactory level with safe working load specified; that all deployment of equipment be certified as fit for purpose by a qualified person; and the measures he had put in place or intends to put in place to implement these recommendations. [15940/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 222 to 224, inclusive, together.
In relation to Clew Bay my Department considered reports from its Marine Engineering Division and the Marine Institute both of which in summary concluded that:
1. The estimated number of escaped fish was not considered significant.
2. The escape was caused by a torn net.
3. The operator was required to arrange for testing of the damaged net to determine the cause of its failure.
4. The operator was required to arrange for additional testing on all nets for similar weaknesses.
My Department was satisfied from correspondence received that these matters were receiving necessary and appropriate attention by the operator.
In relation to Inver Bay, in late 2010 a significant fish escape occurred at this site which was investigated by the Marine Engineering Division of my Department and the Marine Institute. The escape was caused by the failure of mooring bridles during stormy conditions. On 12 July 2011 the operator advised my Department that all recommendations in the engineering report had been implemented. This information was conveyed to my Department at a scheduled meeting with the operator covering a wide range of issues.
Engineering reports form a very important part of the regulatory function. The aquaculture industry is heavily regulated and subject to complex and detailed national and EU legislation. Operators are required at all times to keep cages and ancillary equipment in good repair. My Department is alert to ongoing technological changes which enhance the security of all structures on licensed sites and in this regard my Department is currently preparing a draft protocol for the structural design of marine finfish farms.
225. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will require his Department to notify Inland Fisheries Ireland immediately when it receives notification from operators of the escape of fish from fish farms in order that it may exercise its statutory role of seeking to capture these escapees, as this was not done in the recent loss of 230,000 fish in Bantry Bay and can only be effective if done without delay. [15941/14]
View answerIt is a condition of aquaculture licences that the Licensee shall advise Inland Fisheries Ireland within 24 hours of any escapes from the licensed areas. My Department is advised by the operator that written notice of a possible fish escape/loss was issued to Inland Fisheries Ireland on 14 February. The operator has also advised my Department that due to the treacherous weather conditions it was not possible to confirm the fish loss until 16/17 February. As previously indicated to the Deputy, site surveys must be conducted in a manner which takes due account of the health and safety of the personnel involved.
226. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the duration of the merchant agreement where payment by debit or credit card is accepted for services provided by her Department or bodies under the aegis of her Department to the public; when the term of the agreement will end; if the merchant agreement is awarded by way of tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15733/14]
View answerMy Department does not receive payment for services provided to the public by way of debit or credit card.
