Written Answers Nos. 157-63
157. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the new single farm payment scheme will impact on a farm enterprise (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17127/14]
View answerThe company named has an automatic allocation right and will be allocated new entitlements in 2015 under the Basic Payment Scheme, with permanent effect. The number of entitlements will be based on the number of hectares of eligible land declared by the company in 2013 or 2015, whichever is the lesser. The value of the entitlements will be based on a percentage of the Single Payment entitlements owned in 2014 by the person named and another person, both of whom are directors of the company.
158. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17142/14]
View answerWith processing of the application of the person named under the 2012 Disadvantaged Area Scheme having recently been finalised, following resolution of outstanding issues, payment will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
159. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person who owns 15 hectares, some of it quite far away from their house, can stack their entitlements for seven hectares and sell or lease the other portion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17154/14]
View answerFarmers who satisfy certain conditions are eligible to apply to have their entitlements consolidated (Stacked). The reduction in the number of hectares must have arisen because of one or more of the following circumstances: The acquisition of land by a public authority under a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for non-agriculture. Lands leased in/rented in during all or part of the reference period (2000-2002) where the lease/rental agreement has expired or will expire and the land parcels in question are no longer available. Land that is sold or leased out by the farmer is not eligible for Consolidation (Stacking) under the Single Payment Scheme.
160. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the rate of modulation applied in 2013 and 2014; if it applies to the first €5,000 for those in receipt of a single farm payment of over €5,000; the total funding available for the single farm payment in 2013 and 2014; other deductions being applied in both years from the payment for the national reserve, crisis fund, young farmers and any other purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17173/14]
View answerFor clarification purposes the figures provided in this Reply relate to the 2013 Single Payment Scheme, which was paid from 16 October 2013 (50% advance) in the 2014 EAGF financial year and 2014 Single Payment Scheme; this is payable from 16 October 2014 in the 2015 EAGF financial year. The Net National Ceiling for the 2013 SPS scheme-year was €1,255.5 million. The level of deduction applied, which is equivalent to modulation, was 10% on all amounts in excess €5,000 and 14% on amount paid in excess of €300,000. In addition, a deduction under Financial Discipline of 2.453658% was applied to ensure compliance with the new EU Budget, as agreed during the negotiations on the MFF and to provide for a Crises Reserve. The financial discipline deduction was applied, in accordance with the EU Regulations, on payments in excess of €2,000. Approximately 1% of the Financial Discipline deduction related to the establishment of the Crises Reserve and this will be refunded to farmers if it is not utilised during the 2014 EAGF financial year.
The modulation deduction no longer applies under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme. However, in order to ensure compliance with the new 2014 National Ceiling of €1,216.547 million a linear reduction was applied to payment entitlements under the provisions of EU Regulation 1310/2013. Under the provisions of this Regulation, Member States has a discretionary power to exclude the activated entitlements held by farmers, who claimed €5,000 or less under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme. I decided to implement this provision in order to protect smaller-scale producers in Ireland. The level of the linear reduction applied to those entitlements held by farmers, who claimed more than €5,000 was 10.49%. It will also be necessary to apply a Financial Discipline deduction under the 2014 Scheme to provide for a Crises Reserve in respect of the 2015 EAGF financial year. In that regard, the European Commission published a proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council providing for a Financial Discipline deduction of 1.301951% on all amounts in excess of €2,000 under the 2014 Schemes. It is open to the Commission to alter this rate following the preparation of the Amending Letter to the 2015 Draft Budget in October 2014 by way of an implementing act. There was and will be no deductions in respect of the National Reserve or for Young Farmers under the 2013 and 2014 Schemes. The deductions in respect of these measures will apply from 2015.
161. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive his or her 2012 and 2013 REP scheme payments as the delay in receiving same is causing undue hardship. [17189/14]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in January 2010 and received payments for the first two years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. This process has now been completed for the applicant’s 2012 payment which has been authorised for payment. The 75% and 25% payments will issue in the near future. Once the 2012 payment has issued, processing will immediately begin in relation to the 2013 payment.
162. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a detailed update on super levy calculation from exceeding the milk quota. [17241/14]
View answerEU Regulations stipulate that milk purchasers must, not later than May 15th each year forward to the competent authority of the Member State, a statement for each of their milk producers showing the quantity and fat content of the milk delivered for the quota year.
In the interim my Department is gathering preliminary information in order to give an earlier estimated position. I expect to be in a position to make this information available on my Department’s website very shortly. The most recent position, based on returns submitted to my Department by milk purchasers to the end of February, indicated the country was estimated to be 1.26% over quota.
163. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on investigations his Department has undertaken into illegal milk quota movements in the 2013-14 quota year; the steps that have been taken to address the issue arising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17242/14]
View answerMy Department is investigating certain allegations relating to illegal milk movements. However it would be inappropriate to comment on such matters while investigations are ongoing.
As regards action taken during the year, my Department has undertaken a number of initiatives to raise awareness and remind milk suppliers and purchasers of their legal obligations under the Milk Quota Regulations. At my request, Teagasc has also provided advice to farmers on how to manage their herds when approaching an over quota position.
