Written Answers Nos. 52-56
52. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he will meet his stated target of 30,000 applicants accepted into GLAS in 2015, in view of the fact that his Department has stipulated that only those in Tier One, may participate in year one and the majority of Irish farmers fall into the Tier Two category. [39476/14]
View answerAll GLAS applications received (Tier One, Tier Two and Tier Three) by the closing date in 2015 will be put through a series of eligibility checks and all eligible applications will then be scored and ranked in order of merit. I am providing for up to 30,000 farmers to join GLAS in 2015 and envisage that the bulk of these will be drawn from Tier One. The estimated potential pool of farmers falling within Tier One is 25-30,000 but, as GLAS is a voluntary scheme, the actual number of applications received may also allow for farmers under Tier Two to be approved into the scheme in the first year.
53. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reference area under the single payment scheme established by his Department in respect of the 2013 SPS in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the area claimed on the single payment form submitted by the person in 2013; the total SPS payment issued to the person for 2013; the penalties imposed on persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39477/14]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware my Department is currently examining land parcels declared under the Single Payment Scheme and other area-based Direct Payment Schemes. As part of this review ineligible areas were identified and removed from a number of parcels declared by the person named. The person named claimed 18.53ha on their 2013 Single Payment application, and the removal of the ineligible areas, resulted in a reduction of 2.64 hectares, which was notified to the person named. The reduction of 2.64 hectares was for ineligible features including rock, a farmyard and farm roads, which had been included in the applicant’s claimed area. An over-payment of €248.74 has been established under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme application submitted by the person named.
Following an appeal from the person named my Department has completed its review of the case and has rejected the appeal submitted. The applicant was informed of the outcome of this review in a letter dated 1 August 2014 and informed of his right to submit an appeal to the LPIS Appeals Committee. The person named has recently availed of this right of appeal and the LPIS Appeals Committee are currently considering same.
54. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to support the pigmeat sector in view of current difficulties; if he has put any specific proposals to the European Commission to assist this particular sector through these difficulties, including the effects of the Russian ban on EU exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39487/14]
View answerThe development of the pigmeat sector is a priority for me given the crucial role which the industry plays in supporting approximately 7,000 jobs including production, slaughter, processing, feed manufacture and services. In 2013 export volumes were largely unchanged but values increased by 3% to over €520 million, continuing the growth seen in recent years. Pigmeat prices tend to be cyclical in nature with periods of lower prices and production followed by recovery and this has remained the case for many years. My Department carefully monitors developments in the pig sector, both domestically and internationally. I also met with members of the IFA National Pigs and Pigmeat Committee as recently as last week to hear their views on recent developments.
In relation to the Russian ban on EU pigmeat exports I am fully aware of the concerns Irish pig farmers have as a result of the closure of this market. At EU level the Commission has referred this matter to the WTO for resolution. I have called on the European Commission to monitor the developments on markets and where necessary, to quickly activate safety net provisions such as public interventions and/or private storage aid.
Support is provided by my Department for the sector in a number of ways. Firstly, as I announced in the budget yesterday, I have included provision in 2015 and throughout the whole RDP for an on-farm capital investments scheme, TAMS II, with an overall budget of €395 million across all sectors. In 2015, I am allocating €37m for this scheme. Amongst the areas identified for initial funding are investments on pig farms for energy, water meters and medicine dispensers. Other elements of the RDP, such as targeted on farm animal health and welfare scheme will also be of benefit to the pig sector.
Other supports for the sector come through Teagasc which, through its Moorepark pig research facility and courses in pig production, plays an important role in improving production at farm level. Through its Joint Research Advisory Programme, Teagasc will support Irish pig producers by providing advice, research and education across a range of issues of importance to the sector. The programme has enabled Teagasc to employ four additional advisors and researchers to support producers and the sector through advice, research and education across a range of issues of importance to the sector. The high level objective of the programme is to enhance the sustainability of Irish pig meat production, including improvements in economic, social and environmental standards. This will result in improvements in the production and marketability of Irish pigmeat.
I am also conscious of the need to promote the consumption of Irish pigmeat in domestic and overseas markets. Bord Bia provides assistance to the pigmeat sector through its marketing and promotional activities, and the pigmeat quality assurance scheme helps to consolidate the position of Irish pigmeat on the domestic market and helps expand its presence on EU and third country markets.
For my part I have vowed to ensure that as many alternative markets as possible are open to Irish Pigmeat processors. In this regard I was pleased to recently announce the opening of the markets in Vietnam and the Philippines for Irish pigmeat which will serve as valuable alternative markets to Russia for Irish pigmeat exports.
55. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Defence if performance-related pay has been paid to any of his staff or staff in his Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; if so, the number of staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39392/14]
View answerNo performance related payments have been paid to staff of the Department for the years 2011 to date.
56. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Defence if he will seek approval from the Civil Defence headquarters at Benamore, Roscrea, County Tipperary, to allow community volunteers access a playing field to the rear of its building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39447/14]
View answerThe site occupied by Civil Defence at Benamore, Roscrea is provided by the Office of Public Works. The site includes a green field area at the rear, which was acquired for the purposes of developing a modern outdoor training range, and is currently being used by Civil Defence for training exercises.
I am advised that the green field area in question is not a playing pitch and is unsuitable for that purpose.
In view of the above I regret to say that my Department is not in a position to assist further in the matter.
