Written Answers Nos. 144-149
144. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application for forestry planting approval will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford. [18171/14]
View answerThe application by the person named under the afforestation scheme is currently being considered and a decision will be made as soon as the necessary consultative process and examination have been completed.
145. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to the six greyhounds that participated in this year's national hare coursing festival testing positive for banned substances, if he will have the Irish Coursing Club extend drug testing of greyhounds to all hare coursing events; his views on having his Department initiate its own drug testing at these events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18183/14]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club (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 ICC introduced new arrangements for the testing of coursing greyhounds for prohibited substances for the 2012/3 coursing season. There were no positive results in the 2012/3 season. 6 positive results were reported in the 2013/4 season which are now being processed by the ICC in accordance with the rules governing such matters. I have been informed that the Executive Committee of the ICC plan to undertake a review of its arrangements for testing for prohibited substances in coursing greyhounds in the near future and the Committee will decide on any changes that need to be made to the testing regime after considering the findings of the review.
146. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider introducing some form of grant aid for reconstitution of forestation (details supplied). [18210/14]
View answerThe storm earlier in the year has indeed been damaging to Irish forests particularly in the south of the country. In order to establish the most appropriate response for forest owners and the forest industry a taskforce, chaired by Mr Tom Hayes TD, Minister of State, and comprising of the Irish Forest and Forest Products Association, the Irish Timber Growers Association, the Irish Farmers Association, Coillte Teoranta and Teagasc has been put in place to assess the damage nationally and to identify the various issues arising.
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 discuss the issue with forest owners affected and Teagasc, in association with Coillte and my Department, have organised a number of field events for forest owners. Forest owners are also urged to get professional advice from qualified foresters to guide them through this process and to attend these windblow field days.
Whilst direct financial support is not being provided to those whose forests were destroyed in the storm, I can confirm that any premium payments that have not yet been paid for 2014 will be paid even if these forests have been affected by this windblow event.
147. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of all funding to piers and harbours in County Donegal for 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18223/14]
View answerThe Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Capital Development Programme which my Department administers on an annual basis provides funding for capital works at the six state-owned Fishery Harbour Centres including Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre. In addition, the programme also provides funding, where exchequer funds allow, for the development and repair of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways.
Funding under the 2014 programme has recently been approved and Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre has been allocated €929,000 for the development and maintenance of the Harbour for this year. Table 1 gives details of the funding expended on the development of Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre for the years 2011 – 2013.
As part of the Government’s overall response to the damage inflicted on our national piers and harbours infrastructure this winter, Donegal County Council has been allocated €751,000 for the repair of 28 harbours, piers & slipways around the county. Table 2 details the list of projects in County Donegal which were approved funding in 2014 under the ‘Storm Damage’ Programme.
In addition to this Storm Damage funding, my Department will shortly be requesting all coastal local authorities to submit a list of projects for consideration for funding under our Local Authority Harbour Development Programme and Marine Leisure & Marine Tourism Capital Infrastructure Development Programme. For 2014 I have approved a total of €3 million nationally for these programmes. Table 3 details the funding expended on the development of Local Authority owned Piers and Harbours in County Donegal under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for the years 2011 – 2013.
Table 1. Funding in Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre for the years 2011 – 2013.
|
Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre |
|
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2011 |
€987,465 |
|
2012 |
€526,548 |
|
2013 |
€798,350 |
Table 2. Projects in County Donegal which were approved funding in 2014 under the ‘Storm Damage’ Programme.
|
Donegal County Council 'Storm Damage Funding' |
|
|
Location |
Approved Funding |
|
Mountcharles Pier |
€36,000 |
|
Magherarorty Harbour |
€45,000 |
|
Buncrana Harbour |
€45,000 |
|
Arranmore, Rannagh Pier Slip |
€27,000 |
|
Bundoran Pier |
€7,200 |
|
Malinmore Pier |
€6,750 |
|
Doonalt Pier (near Glencolmcille) |
€6,750 |
|
Bruckless Pier |
€16,200 |
|
Port Inver |
€18,000 |
|
Cladnageeragh Pier (near Kilcar) |
€22,500 |
|
Portsalon Pier |
€22,500 |
|
Bunaniver Pier |
€31,500 |
|
Wyon Point & Rinnalea Navigation Lights |
€9,000 |
|
Nancy's Rock Navigation Perch |
€31,500 |
|
Cassan Sound Pier |
€9,000 |
|
Malinbeg, Ballyederlan, Gortalia, Tawney (Piers & Slipways) |
€18,000 |
|
Donegal Town Pier |
€3,600 |
|
Bunagee Pier |
€135,000 |
|
Ballysaggart Pier |
€13,500 |
|
Owey Island Pier |
€27,000 |
|
Rathmullan Pier |
€27,000 |
|
Leabgarrow Harbour, Arranmore |
€45,000 |
|
Ballyshannon Harbour |
€45,000 |
|
Curransport Slipway |
€9,000 |
|
Arranmore,Stackamore, Slipway |
€6,750 |
|
Cruit Island Slipway |
€6,750 |
|
Inis Caoraigh Slipway |
€18,000 |
|
Killybegs Harbour, Shore Road |
€63,000 |
Table 3. Funding expended on the development of Local Authority owned Piers and Harbours in County Donegal under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for the years 2011 – 2013.
|
Local Authority Funding |
||
|
Year |
Location |
Expenditure |
|
2011 |
Portsalon Pier |
€63,959 |
|
2012 |
Portalean Repairs |
€37,500 |
|
Chruinn Refurbish |
€90,000 |
|
|
Leenan Crane |
€82,865 |
|
|
Bunagee Repairs Slip |
€33,018 |
|
|
2013 |
Portsalon Pier |
€18,527 |
|
Inishboffin Island Sea Wall |
€28,443 |
|
|
Loughros Point |
€7,500 |
|
|
Downings Pier |
€4,909 |
|
|
Teeling Slipway |
€7,500 |
|
|
Inishboffin Slipway |
€22,500 |
|
|
Arranmore Isl Aton |
€37,500 |
|
|
Arranmore Isl Slipway |
€13,763 |
|
|
Ballywhoriskey Pier |
€29,234 |
|
|
Donegal Various AtoN |
€33,750 |
148. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of a rural environment protection scheme appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18225/14]
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 Rural Development Programme, 2007-2013, and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before payments can issue. Following the discontinuation of a Rental Agreement in 2012 a clawback of moneys was applied to the REPS Year 6 payment for 2013, which became the subject of the Appeal referred to in this question.
The review of the Appeal has now been completed by my Officials and a letter issued to the person named on the 12 March 2014 upholding the decision to apply the claw back in this case. The person named was advised at the same time of their right to appeal the decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
149. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of individual children’s cases which have been brought to the Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency as they have not been able to secure a school placement in their area during each of the past four years; the number of children who had places secured for them during each of these years. [18095/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the Child and Family Agency to provide me with the information sought. I will respond to the Deputy on receipt of this information.
