Thursday, 23 Oct 2014

Written Answers Nos. 97 - 105

Single Payment Scheme Eligibility

Questions (97)

Frank Feighan

Question:

97. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if land is leased and the lessee is drawing area aid, if the owner is entitled to a single farm payment. [40791/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An applicant under the Single Payment Scheme is legally required to declare all of the land that will form part of his/her holding for a period including 31 May of the year of application, excluding any land that he/she has leased out or rented out for any period that includes 31 May of that year. The person who has leased out land is not entitled to claim payment on the leased or rented out land under the Single Payment Scheme. The lessee is entitled to claim payment under the Single Payment Scheme on the basis of one entitlement per hectare of eligible land declared. An official from my Department has contacted the person named and explained the position.

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Questions (98)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

98. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding area aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40805/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In general terms an applicant under the Single Payment Scheme will be cleared for payment when all associated administrative and inspection checks have been carried out. If such an applicant is farming commonage with another applicant who has a query on his/her application in general that query will have no impact on the first person’s application under the Single Payment Scheme. However, where an overclaim exists on a commonage parcel, the entire commonage may be over-claimed and until that query is resolved all other applicants’ payments may be delayed.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Questions (99)

Michael Ring

Question:

99. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive payment of their 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40887/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Processing of the Disadvantaged Areas application of the person named has recently been finalised, with payment due to issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Questions (100)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

100. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the public services and semi-State companies under the remit of his Department that deliver bonuses to staff who need improvement. [41126/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The payment of bonuses to staff is a matter for the State Bodies themselves within the context of Government Public Sector Pay Policies.

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Questions (101)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

101. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence the public services and semi-State companies under the remit of his Department that deliver bonuses to staff who need improvement. [41117/14]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

No staff of my Department or organisations under the aegis of my Department receive bonus payments.

EU Migration Crisis

Questions (102)

Michael McNamara

Question:

102. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the consideration given to Irish participation in Operation Triton, the EU replacement for Mare Nostrum, conducted by the Italian Navy and coast guard in co-ordination with Frontex; Ireland's contribution to the operation, which begins on 1 November 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40808/14]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

Operation Triton, which will be coordinated by Frontex, the European External Borders Agency, aims to support the Italian authorities in border-control activities in the Mediterranean. It is not anticipated that Ireland will be involved, given the particular specialised nature of the immigration operation and the lack of suitable assets. However the situation will be kept under review and if activities arise in which Ireland can usefully participate any request to do so will be considered. Ireland, in common with the UK, is excluded from full participation in Frontex, because the legal base of the Regulation falls outside the scope of the provisions of the Schengen Acquis in which we have applied to participate. However we can participate in operational activities co-ordinated by Frontex with the approval of its Management Board.

Garda Resources

Questions (103, 104, 105)

Niall Collins

Question:

103. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will sanction additional resources, extra personnel and new vehicles to An Garda Síochána at Tallaght, Dublin 24, to allow for effective action to be taken in respect of the recent rise of crime in the area; if she will appreciate the concern of the wider community in respect of those incidents which have affected homes, schools, businesses, youth centres and community facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40718/14]

Niall Collins

Question:

104. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will seek assurances from Garda authorities that immediate and effective action will be taken in respect of recent serious crime which was the subject of a public meeting in a community centre (details supplied) in Dublin 24; if she will note that school, business and community facilities have been affected in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40720/14]

Niall Collins

Question:

105. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide additional resources to An Garda Síochána at Tallaght, Dublin 24, to deal with crime, anti-social behaviour and community tensions in an area (details supplied) in Dublin 24; if she will appreciate that the community requires assurances in the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40721/14]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 to 105, inclusive, together.

I am advised that local Garda management within the Tallaght District is aware of recent crime incidents and of difficulties being experienced by local residents as a result of anti-social behaviour and related issues. I am assured that Gardaí are working closely with the community in the areas referred to in relation to these issues.

Tallaght District is patrolled by uniform and plain clothes units, Community Policing Units, the Street Crime Unit and the Drugs Unit, supplemented as necessary by the Divisional Traffic Unit and Crime Task Force. The Community Police Units have lead responsibility for policing in this area and have developed a partnership approach to problem solving with the community. Local Garda management has put in place targeted proactive measures, including increased patrols and checkpoints, which will focus patrols on the most vulnerable areas.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of all resources, including personnel, among the Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.

Specifically in relation to the Dublin Metropolitan Division (DMR) South, as of 31 August 2014 there were 556 Gardaí assigned to the Division, of which 172 Gardaí are assigned to Tallaght Garda station. As of 21 October 2014 the number of vehicles allocated to the Tallaght District is 32.

More generally the Deputy will also be aware that I recently announced the intake of 200 new Garda recruits in addition to the 100 who commenced training in September this year. Furthermore the provision of an additional €10 million will support the purchase and fit-out of over 400 new vehicles which will come on stream in 2015.

I am advised that Garda management will continue to appraise the policing and administrative strategy employed in the DMR South Division with a view to ensuring an effective Garda service is maintained and when additional resources next become available the needs of the Division will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda Divisions throughout the country.