Written Answers Nos. 471-499
471. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total profiled expenditure for 2014 for the REPS and AEOS schemes broken down by scheme; the expected expenditure under these schemes and the GLAS scheme next year broken down by scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34474/14]
View answerThe total profiled expenditure for 2014 for REPS is €123m and for AEOS is €61m and it is expected that the entire allocation for these Schemes will be spent in 2014. The budgetary process for 2015 is currently underway and the allocation of monies for REPS, AEOS and GLAS will be decided as part of that process.
472. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers with commonage that is classified as marginal land will be required to prove that they keep stock on this commonage in order to receive payment under the areas of natural constraint, ANC, scheme in 2015 and subsequent years; the nature of the proof of stocking commonages that will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34476/14]
View answer483. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated number of farmers who have commonage land at present, which had commonage framework plans prepared on them, and are in receipt of the single farm payment and the disadvantaged payment and do not put stock on the commonage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34509/14]
View answer492. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers with commonage and marginal land will have to carry stock on this land; the period of the year that will be required to entitle them to the single farm payment and the disadvantaged area payment or areas of natural constraint, ANC, from next year on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34531/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 472, 483 and 492 together.
Commonage lands form an important part of the farming enterprises of many farmers, in addition to being crucial from the point of view of bio-diversity, wildlife, amenities and tourism. A total of some 14,936 farmers declare commonage land under the Single Payment Scheme and the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.
They form a significant area of the lands declared annually by farmers in Ireland for the purposes of claiming the Single Farm Payment, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and other Direct Payment Schemes, with approximately 7% of the lands declared are commonage lands. However, there is a growing risk of land abandonment on commonages as under-grazing becomes more of a problem. Farming of commonages is a complex matter, with issues about the legal right to claim, in addition to regular disputes about the grazing of the commonages.
In the case of the treatment of commonage lands under the 2014 Direct Payment Schemes, the situation remains unchanged. From 2015 onwards, a minimum grazing requirement, equivalent to at least one ewe per 1.5 hectares, will be required of all those applicants declaring marginal lands including commonage under the Basic Payment Scheme and the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme. A lower grazing level will be fixed for marginal lands where it is necessary on environmental grounds. These requirements will be expected to be met by all claimants by end December 2015. The extent of this task should not be underestimated and my stated intention is that this will be only achieved by working with the farmers concerned and all other stakeholders.
With a view to having a system to meet the requirements of the Basic Payment Scheme and Areas of Natural Constraint, which will be implemented in 2015, my Department will be writing to all commonage claimants in the coming weeks setting out their individual grazing requirements for marginal lands. The claimants will have the right, if they consider that the figures provided would not meet the requirements of their commonage, to submit an assessment by a professional planner providing alternative figures.
Above the minimum stocking level of one ewe per 1.5 hectares, the management of the grazing requirement is a matter for the individual claimants, provided that the commonage is kept in good agricultural and environmental condition and meets all the requirements for both the BPS and ANC schemes.
473. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the concerns raised in the draft Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 regarding the relative position of farmers and the major multiples, the measures proposed in the programme to address this imbalance; the other steps that he is proposing in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34477/14]
View answerThe process of developing the draft RDP has been a lengthy and complex one. As part of this process a comprehensive Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis, a needs assessment, and multiple stages of stakeholder consultations were carried out. This analysis served to provide a comprehensive outline of the policy context and environment underpinning the draft RDP submitted to the EU Commission in July, 2014. One particular issue which arose as part of this process is the position of farmers and primary producers in the market place. In recognition of this issue, the draft RDP includes provision for support to artisan food producers, regional product development, and marketing and processing support for particular sectors. These supports are to be delivered via the LEADER mechanism, and an allocation of €15m has been set aside for them.
Similarly, an initiative which has the potential for strengthening the position of producers in the supply chain is the development of Producer Organisations. Producer Organisations provide a vehicle for producers to co-ordinate and collaborate in areas such as quality improvement, product development, promotion and marketing. In addition to providing for the possibility to recognise Producer Organisations in the dairy sector in the near future, my Department has also initiated a consultation process to consider how Producer Organisations might also contribute to a more sustainable supply chain in the beef sector. The deadline for receipt of comments through this consultation process is 19th September 2014, and I would welcome a contribution from any stakeholder to that process.
It is also important to note that the Consumer Protection and Competition Bill will commence on 31 October 2014. This Bill provides for the statutory regulation of certain practices in the grocery sector in the form of regulations with associated sanctions and new investigation and enforcement powers. The regulations will prohibit many unfair practices including the compelling of payments for the allocation and retention of shelf space and compelling a supplier to obtain any goods or services from particular third parties.
474. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if participants in the GLAS scheme will be required to take part in the knowledge transfer programme; if they do participate in the two schemes, if they will be entitled to the full payment under both schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34478/14]
View answerKnowledge Transfer, as proposed in Ireland’s draft Rural Development Programme is a scheme that will result in the transfer of expertise to farmers across six different sectors. Participating farmers will attend a minimum number of knowledge exchange meetings and also complete a Farm Improvement Plan in conjunction with a qualified advisor. This is a separate scheme to GLAS and if farmers are involved in both, they will receive the appropriate payment under both. However, there is also a separate requirement under GLAS for all participants to attend dedicated training courses on the various environmental actions laid out in the new GLAS scheme. Participants will receive separate payment for such training, to cover the cost of attendance, and this will be over and above what is paid to them under GLAS itself.
475. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the schemes that could have had an advance payment to beneficiaries of up to 50% of funding as part of their provisions if assistance as provided for in Article 45(4) had been included in the RDP; the reason this was not provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34479/14]
View answerArticle 45(4) of the Rural Development regulation states that: “Beneficiaries of investment related support may request the payment of an advance of up to 50% of the public aid related to the investment from the competent paying agencies if that option is included in the rural development programme.”
The provision applies to investment related support under Article 17 of the Rural Development regulation. This includes the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme II (TAMS II), the Bioenergy scheme, and possibly the GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme. This option is currently not provided for in Ireland’s draft Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 -2020.
Under TAMS, entitlement to payment of the grant only arises when the investment item is purchased and full compliance with the provisions of the Scheme has been verified. Payment of an advance prior to that date would probably require the provision of a financial security by a farmer to ensure recoupment of the advance in case the item was not purchased. This would not be a feasible option.
Historically the Department has not issued advanced payments to beneficiaries for on farm capital investment schemes, either for EU or nationally funded capital investment schemes. Allowing for this option would result in an increase in administrative and control requirements. Nevertheless it is intended to keep this possibility under review as the new Programme is rolled out and in the light of practical experience in operating the new measures.
476. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that there is a minimum stocking level of 0.5 LU per hectare laid down in the organic farming scheme; his plans to give a derogation from this requirement to farmers farming mountain type land as defined for the purposes of the disadvantaged areas scheme and proposed ANC scheme or where stocking prescriptions of less than 0.5 LU are laid down by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in Natura 2000 sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34480/14]
View answerIreland is self-sufficient in the production of organic red meat for the home market but there is clear potential to develop the export market further. For example, in the conventional sector 90% of the beef produced is exported and in the organic sector there is clearly scope to export a multiple of what we consume at home. The challenge is to increase the scale and regularity of supply from producers here at home. It is for this reason that my Department has included a minimum stocking level of 0.5 LU per hectare in the Organic Farming Scheme to encourage producers to respond to the market demand for organically produced food. This is not a new requirement – the exact same provision formed part of the Organic Farming Scheme under the previous Rural development Programme.
However, the over-riding objective of the Organic Farming Scheme is to promote systems of farming which are in harmony with the environment. Where it is clear that a stocking density of 0.5 LU per hectare is not in the best environmental interest, my Department is prepared to look at these instances on a case-by-case basis.
477. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any examination was carried out using standard output data from the Central Statistics Office Census of agriculture and data from Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine databases to determine relative disadvantage on a district electoral division, DED, basis; whether this information could be used to calibrate the payment rates for areas of natural constraint, ANC, and the disadvantaged areas scheme between more severely handicapped, lowland, less severely handicapped, lowland, and mountain type land in a similar way to the method used in relation to this data to determine payment rates for the overall ANC scheme by comparing the same data between DEDs containing designated land with DEDs containing no designated lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34481/14]
View answer478. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the relative rates of areas of natural constraint, ANC, payment in the three types of designation for the ANC scheme, namely, more severely handicapped, less severely handicapped and mountain type grazing; if the payments in each designated area were paid out on the same basis as is used to calculate the overall level of disadvantage in these areas allowing that the overall allocation for the ANC scheme would remain as provided for in the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34482/14]
View answer479. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the objective criteria based on natural constraint used to determine the proposed rates of areas of natural constraint, ANC, and the disadvantaged areas scheme payments in 2014; if he is satisfied that the rate of payment reflects the relative natural constraint in each type of designated area, namely, severely, less severely and mountain type; if the methodology outlined in the rural development plan was used for the purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34483/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 477 to 479, inclusive, together.
Following a review at EU level the Less Favoured Areas Scheme was replaced as part of the overall agreement on the CAP Reform Package. The new Scheme, to be known as Areas of Natural Constraint, is to be delineated by Member States using soil and climatic criteria, as proposed by the Commission, as follows:
- Climate, including Low Temperature and Heat Stress;
- Soil, including Drainage, Texture & Stoniness, Rooting Depth and Chemical Properties;
- Soil & Climate, including Soil Moisture Deficit (SMD);
- Terrain, including Slope.
In Ireland’s case, the three most relevant criteria are SMD (soil saturation), shallow/stony soils and slopes.
An area (administrative unit) would be delineated as an area of Natural Handicap, when it meets the proposed threshold set for one of the above criteria only. The Commission are suggesting the delineation be carried out a LAU2 level – DED in Ireland’s case. To qualify under the new system, an area will need to show that at least two-thirds of its utilised agricultural land meets at least one of these eight criteria.
The resultant Areas of Natural Handicap would be subject to a fine-tuning process. These so called Second Stage Criteria are designed to remove areas which, although they meet the biophysical criteria, are deemed to have overcome the natural disadvantage and, therefore, should not benefit under the Scheme.
The Review is an involved process, and, as such, will take some time to complete. Insofar as Ireland is concerned, our ability to delineate as required was dependent on the completion by Teagasc of their national Soil Survey, which was only recently finalised by Teagasc and officially launched this week. A process will be initiated by my Department of using the relevant data from the soil map, supplemented by climatic data to do the initial delineation. The outcome of this process must be subjected to significant and robust verification giving the importance of an area losing or gaining designation under the ANC Scheme. This verification will include ground truthing. It will be very important to ensure the final decisions are as accurate as possible given that it is not an exact scientific process. There is the provision that a Member State could designate an area up to 10% of its land mass as areas of specific constraints. These could be areas that do not meet the two thirds threshold using one of the 8 criteria but exceeds that threshold when the impact of two criteria is accumulated. In any event, an appeals process will have to be in place to deal with appeals from any area that was not designated where it considers that it should have been. The delineation process is, therefore, likely to take some time before it is finally concluded.
The ANC Scheme will be introduced in 2015 and will be subject to the provisions of the new RD Regulation (1305/2013). Pending the outcome of the Review and the implementation of the new designations, the aid can continue to be paid to farmers situated in the existing Less Favoured Areas pending the new delineation using the bio-physical criteria. It has provisionally being decided that the ANC Scheme will have a funding of €195 million per annum, which is the same as the 2013 and 2014 level of funding.
480. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is permissible for farmers at present to be receiving payments under both the REP scheme or the AEOS scheme and the Burren farming for conservation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34484/14]
View answerParticipants in receipt of payments under the Burren Farming for Conservation Scheme may also participate in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme or the Agri-Environment Options Scheme. However if an identical commitment is carried under more than one Scheme it will be funded under one Scheme only.
481. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there is no attributed cost to the cost for farmers in completing the carbon navigator with an approved adviser as this is an obligatory requirement of the RDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34485/14]
View answerThe draft RDP was finalised by my Department and submitted to the European Commission on the 3rd of July 2014. The shape of the various schemes proposed under the draft programme has not yet been finalised. This draft will now form the basis for a period of discussion with the Commission and the subsequent formal adoption of the RDP. Finalising the details of each scheme and securing approval for the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 will be a priority for my Department in the coming months. It’s important to note that the RDP is of course co-funded by the European Commission and therefore all decisions on scheme design and implementation must be taken jointly with them. The role of the carbon navigator in emphasising the credibility of the Beef Data and Genomics Programme scheme to the European Commission will be crucial in helping to secure their support for the implementation of the scheme. The SWOT analysis conducted as part of the Rural Development programming process clearly identified opportunities to build on Ireland’s green reputation internationally, and to capitalise on our high levels of carbon efficiency. At the same time, due to our high dependence on animal production systems, there are pressures to further reduce GHG emissions from the agriculture sector and to meet binding emission reduction targets established under the EU Effort Sharing Decision.
These opportunities and threats identified in the SWOT analysis are addressed through a variety of measures in the RDP, including the addition of the Carbon Navigator to the proposed Knowledge Transfer Groups and the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP). The Carbon Navigator, developed by Teagasc and Bord Bia, allows farmers to understand how their farms produce greenhouse gases, identify mitigation capacity, and set targets and a pathway to reduce emissions. I believe the Carbon Navigator has a very positive contribution to make by bringing the science of climate change mitigation down to the level of the farm in a user friendly format. Crucially it also underlines the link between improving farm profit margins and climate change actions. The Carbon Navigator clearly demonstrates, to the farmer, the considerable economic savings that can be achieved through climate change mitigation actions such as a longer grazing season or increased calving rates.
The cost calculations developed for both the Knowledge Transfer groups and the BDGP are based on the cost incurred and income foregone for farmers involved in these measures. Under EU rules, and in line with good budgetary management, it is precluded from paying farmers for doing the same activity under two separate schemes. Given that all farmers in the Beef Knowledge Transfer groups will also be required to be in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme, there is a risk of double funding if the cost of the Carbon Navigator is included in the cost calculations under both measures. Therefore, the Carbon Navigator is only included in the cost calculation under the Knowledge Transfer Groups. Having said that, it is important to emphasise that the proposal still remains to grant €80 per animal for each set of actions carried out under the BDGP.
484. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that there are sufficient planners in place to prepare GLAS plans for commonage areas; the method by which the shareholders will be expected to agree and select a planner for the development of a GLAS plan for farmers with commonage holdings; if public procurement rules will apply as these contracts could involve the preparation of over 100 individual GLAS plans for the individual shareholders in the same commonage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34510/14]
View answerMy officials have held meetings with the Agricultural Consultants Association and with Teagasc regarding the preparation of GLAS Commonage Management Plans and I believe there should be a sufficient complement of agricultural advisors available to carry out this important work. Only one Plan will be submitted for the entire commonage, which may be contributed to by a number of planners, so the question of public procurement does not apply. It is for the shareholders to select their planner and to work together to draw up the best possible plan for their Commonage.
485. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if payments under the new GLAS scheme are based totally on standard costings or if receipts will be required to receive any payments by farmers under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34511/14]
View answerIreland’s draft Rural Development Programme for the period 2014-2020 was submitted to the European Commission for approval in July and one of the things we have sought in the context of GLAS is greater flexibility with regard to the use of standard costs. It is proposed to use standard costs for non-productive capital investments carried out under GLAS and the submission of receipts will not be required in order to activate payment. However, all relevant paper work – including receipts – must be retained by the farmer. My Department will continue to assess compliance by means of on-the-spot inspections and, if necessary, evidence of receipts may be required at that time.
It should be stressed, however, that this remains a proposal and is subject to approval by the EU.
487. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be taken on the application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara for a fish farming licence in Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34526/14]
View answerAn application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay was received by my Department in 2012. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement are being considered under the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act. A determination in respect of the application will be made as soon as possible following completion of the necessary assessment process. This assessment process will take full account of all national and EU legislative requirements and will reflect the full engineering, scientific, environmental, legal and public policy aspects of the application.
The fullest consideration is being given to all submissions received as part of the statutory and public consultation stages of the process.
There is always a strict separation between my Ministerial role as decision maker in respect of aquaculture licence applications and my Ministerial duty to promote the sustainable development of the industry. This separation of duties is strictly observed.
As the application is under active consideration as part of the statutory process it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.
488. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of reviews of the land parcel identification system alleged over claims that were sought by farmers; the numbers decided; the number subsequently appealed to the special appeals committee and the number decided to date by this committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34527/14]
View answer489. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who had over claims confirmed of over 20%, over claims of between 3% and 20% and over claims of less than 3% arising out of the land parcel identification system review in the last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34528/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 488 and 489 together.
The data sought by the Deputy is currently being compiled and will be furnished directly to the Deputy immediately is becomes available. Under the Terms & Conditions of the Direct Aid Schemes, which includes the Single Payment Scheme, farmers are obliged to declare only eligible land when making their applications, are to exclude ineligible features such as roads, buildings, farmyards, dense scrub, etc. These claims are then recorded on the Department’s Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS). Given the importance of the LPIS database in underpinning direct aid payments worth in excess of €1.5 billion annually, my Department is obliged under EU Regulations to ensure its accuracy.
Following consultation with the EU Commission, as part of the normal Accounting process, my Department was requested to undertake a complete review of the LPIS database. This has resulted in the necessity to adjust parcels of a significant number of applicants, where it was established that some ineligible features had been included. In certain circumstances these adjustments are giving rise to penalties.
A comprehensive review and appeals process has been implemented to ensure that the cases of individual farmers are fully scrutinised. In the first instance, a farmer, who finds himself or herself in this position, can seek a review of the original decision by Department officials. If they are not happy with the outcome of the review, they can submit an appeal to the independently-chaired LPIS Appeals Committee.
The LPIS Review process initiated by my Department consisted on a review of all of the eligible land parcels in the LPIS database, as declared by farmers under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and other Direct Payment Schemes. In total, the Review covered in excess of 132,000 applicants and the land parcels declared by them as eligible for payment under one of more of the above-mentioned Schemes.
It is important to note that there are some positive outcomes of the current Review from a farmer’s point of view. In the first instance, as I already announced, the number of payment entitlements which farmers will be granted under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015 will be based on the 2013 eligible land or in 2015 if it is lower. This means that farmers, who have ineligible land deducted in 2013 as part of this Review, will be protected under the new Regime as their entitlements will be based on the actual eligible land in 2013. In addition, it also means that farmers, who are contributing to the convergence process by having reductions applied to their entitlements, will not see part of the funds used to make payments on ineligible lands.
A deliberate decision was taken late last year not to delay payments to those farmers whose payments were due to be subject to reduction following the outcome of the Review; rather, the payments issued with the sums in question deducted, the farmers concerned being then advised of the reductions and the appeals process. This course of action was specifically designed to ensure that there was no undue delay in issuing payments, while also ensuring that farmers were aware of the appeals process.
490. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who have had retrospective penalties imposed on them to date arising out of the land parcel identification system review; the number for whom these penalties were imposed retrospectively for two years, three years, four years, five years and more than five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34529/14]
View answerUnder the Terms & Conditions of the Direct Aid Schemes, which includes the Single Payment Scheme, farmers are obliged to declare only eligible land when making their applications, are to exclude ineligible features such as roads, buildings, farmyards, dense scrub, etc. These claims are then recorded on the Department’s Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS). Given the importance of the LPIS database in underpinning direct aid payments worth in excess of €1.5 billion annually, my Department is obliged under EU Regulations to ensure its accuracy. Following consultation with the EU Commission, as part of the normal Accounting process, my Department was requested to undertake a complete review of the LPIS database. This has resulted in the necessity to adjust parcels of a significant number of applicants, where it was established that some ineligible features had been included. In certain circumstances these adjustments are giving rise to penalties.
A comprehensive review and appeals process has been implemented to ensure that the cases of individual farmers are fully scrutinised. In the first instance, a farmer, who finds himself or herself in this position, can seek a review of the original decision by Department officials. If they are not happy with the outcome of the review, they can submit an appeal to the independently-chaired LPIS Appeals Committee.
The LPIS Review process initiated by my Department consisted on a review of all of the eligible land parcels in the LPIS database, as declared by farmers under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and other Direct Payment Schemes. In total, the Review covered in excess of 132,000 applicants and the land parcels declared by them as eligible for payment under one of more of the above-mentioned Schemes.
It is important to note that there are some positive outcomes of the current Review from a farmer’s point of view. In the first instance, as I already announced, the number of payment entitlements which farmers will be granted under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015 will be based on the 2013 eligible land or in 2015 if it is lower. This means that farmers, who have ineligible land deducted in 2013 as part of this Review, will be protected under the new Regime as their entitlements will be based on the actual eligible land in 2013. In addition, it also means that farmers, who are contributing to the convergence process by having reductions applied to their entitlements, will not see part of the funds used to make payments on ineligible lands.
A deliberate decision was taken late last year not to delay payments to those farmers whose payments were due to be subject to reduction following the outcome of the Review; rather, the payments issued with the sums in question deducted, the farmers concerned being then advised of the reductions and the appeals process. This course of action was specifically designed to ensure that there was no undue delay in issuing payments, while also ensuring that farmers were aware of the appeals process.
To date, some 2,485 farmers have had retrospective clawbacks imposed arising from the system review, of whom 185 had clawbacks imposed for two years, 285 for three years and 1,855 for four years.
491. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the upgrading of cattle and sheep housing will be included under the TAMS schemes 2014-2020; if these upgrades will include upgrades to ensure better animal welfare and effluent control and safety issues; if, in relation to animal welfare, it will include the provision of cow mats and slat mats, which significantly improve animal health, productivity and performance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34530/14]
View answerThe Rural Development Programme for the 2014-2020 period was submitted to the EU Commission for approval in July 2014. In the case of TAMS II, it is proposed, subject to EU Commission approval, to provide funding in the initial stages for investments in relation to (i) dairy equipment, (ii) low emission spreading equipment, (iii) animal welfare and farm safety (specifically beef and sheep handling facilities), (iv) pig and poultry investments in energy, water meters and medicine dispensers, (v) organic capital investment, and (vi) a young farmer capital investment scheme. General support schemes in relation to farm nutrient storage and animal housing will be introduced at a later stage. It is not possible at this stage to identify the range of investment items which will be included in the proposed animal housing scheme. EU Commission approval will be required for the Programme before any TAMS II measures can be introduced under its remit.
493. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the threat of a fine being imposed on his Department by the EU in relation to the single farm payment still exists and the progress with the discussion to date to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34532/14]
View answerI can confirm that the proposed EU disallowance remains alive issue. Following a series of bilateral meetings between officials of my Department and EU officials, which failed to reconcile my principal contention – that the EU approach to the level of correction to be applied should be based on the assessed risk, rather than a flat rate calculation – my Department has availed of the option to refer the dossier to the Conciliation Board. The formal Irish position was lodged with the Conciliation Body on 25 June. While a hearing of our case is scheduled for early December, given the complexities involved it is unlikely that there will be a resolution until mid 2015, at the earliest.
494. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposed locations, dates and times of the regional meetings being organised by him in relation to commonages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34533/14]
View answerA number of information meetings are being hosted by the Department at various venues nationwide. These meetings are to help to reassure Commonage farmers and provide the clarity they have been seeking. The purpose of the meetings is to provide information on future requirements under the Basic Payment Scheme under Pillar I and the GLAS scheme and ANC Scheme under Pillar II of the CAP. The dates and venues are as follows:
|
Date |
Venues |
Time |
|
30 September |
Knockranny House Hotel, Westport, Co. Mayo |
8pm |
|
30 September |
Kenmare Bay Hotel, Kenmare, Co. Kerry. |
8pm |
|
01 October |
Peacocke’s Hotel, Maam Cross, Co. Galway |
8pm |
|
02 October |
Nesbitt Arms Hotel, Ardara, Co. Donegal |
8pm |
|
02 October |
Glendalough Hotel, Glendalough, Co. Wicklow |
8pm |
496. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of funding provided this year for the following payments, including EU and Exchequer funding; single farm payment, disadvantaged area payment, REPs, AEOS, genomics scheme, beef technology, dairy discussion groups and any other scheme of current payment to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34535/14]
View answerThe total exchequer funding provided by my Department to farmers in 2014 is €569.78 million comprising €439.62 million current and €130.16 million capital spending. In addition to voted expenditure the estimated 100% direct EU funded payments amount to €1.2 billion. The 100% EU funded schemes are provided for on an EU Agriculture financial year basis which starts on the 16th October each year. The EU figure provided shows an estimate for the 2014 calendar year which combines part of 2014 and 2015 EU years.
Details of both exchequer and EU funded payment are as follows:
Exchequer Funding
|
Current Expenditure |
Budget 2014 €’000 |
|
Income Support in Disadvantaged Areas |
195,000 |
|
Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) |
123,000 |
|
Agri Envir Scheme (AEOS) |
61,000 |
|
Beef Genomics Scheme |
23,000 |
|
Early Retirement Scheme |
10,000 |
|
Technology Adoption Programmes inc. Discussion Groups |
9,000 |
|
TB & Brucellosis related payment |
15,300 |
|
Other Animal Disease related payments |
1,320 |
|
Suckler Cow |
2,000 |
|
Subtotal – Current Funding |
439,620 |
|
Capital Expenditure |
|
|
Forestry |
106.400 |
|
TAMS |
17,200 |
|
Horticulture |
4,200 |
|
Other On Farm |
2,360 |
|
Subtotal – Capital Funding |
130,160 |
|
Total – All Exchequer Funding |
569,780 |
|
100 % EU Funded Payment |
1,200,000 |
|
Total Funding (Exchequer & EU) |
1,769,780 |
497. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the application for an extra milk quota in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34620/14]
View answerAllocations of milk quota from the National Reserve are granted on the basis of recommendations from the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal. The Tribunal examines and makes recommendations on applications for additional quota from individual producers, on the grounds of hardship. The Tribunal considers issues such as on and off farm income level, use of previous years quota, previous allocations and the volume of quota available for distribution. The closing date for receipt of applications to what is the final “hardship scheme” was September 5th last. Officials in my Department are currently processing the applications and, I understand that an application has been received from the person named. The Tribunal will shortly commence consideration of all eligible applications. I expect the results of the scheme to issue by mid October.
498. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding payment under the beef data scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34625/14]
View answerThe person named is an applicant under the 2014 Beef Data Programme and Beef Genomics Scheme and to date has registered thirty six animals for both of these Schemes. The processing of applications under both Schemes is currently underway and timelines for the issue of payments will be announced in due course.
499. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on allowing the trading of entitlements for 2015 on naked hectares of land that were purchased subsequent to May of 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34638/14]
View answerThe current Single Payment Scheme comes to an end on 31 December 2014 and all entitlements held under that scheme expire on that date. With the introduction of the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015, new entitlements will be established for those who hold an automatic right to establish entitlements under the new scheme. Such an ‘allocation right’ is based on having received a direct payment under the 2013 scheme year. The sale of land and related Basic Payment Scheme entitlements is administered by way of Private Contract Clause which is a formal agreement between the seller and the buyer of land in relation to the allocation of entitlements under the new Scheme.
The Private Contract Clause (PCC) form is available on the Department’s website www.agriculture.gov.ie. In addition I have established a dedicated 2015 Direct Payments Information Centre that may be contacted at 076-1 064438 or CAPdirectpayments@agriculture.gov.ie to discuss such cases in more detail.
