Written Answers Nos. 401-421
401. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the existing and proposed reference areas and forage areas for the four commonages, namely, Cloghaun, Kilbeg, Kilnagappagh and Gortnaglev, in County Galway under the single payment scheme and disadvantaged area schemes; when his Department proposes to apply the amended areas to the various schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41060/14]
View answerTo allow payments issue under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme (SPS), the processing of claims on the above commonage parcels mentioned for 2014, was prioritised. The reference areas for these commonages have been set as they appeared on the pre-printed 2014 SPS applications circulated to the claimants on these commonages, in March of this year.
These areas are currently under review and my Department will be in contact with the claimants involved concerning any changes to these reference areas.
402. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to ensure the interests of Ireland’s agriculture will be protected under the transatlantic trade and investment partnership negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41070/14]
View answerI would start by saying that Ireland is very supportive of an EU/US trade deal. An agreement between the world’s two major trading blocs has the potential to increase growth and grow jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. In the agri-food sector we have strong offensive interests, both in terms of market access and in eliminating some of the irritants that hinder trade. We are seeking substantial market access for our dairy products and in the prepared foods area. We also want to see action to action to address the question of Grade A equivalence for dairy and the licensing system that applies to dairy imports into the US.
Of course we have sensitivities as well. One of these is our beef sector. While we see some opportunities for establishing a niche market in the US for Irish beef, we have concerns regarding the prospect of increased beef imports into the EU. I have raised these concerns on a number of occasions with the EU Commission. I have proposed that Ireland’s sensitivities are reflected in the size and composition of any quota offered to the US. I have argued that the size of the quota should not exceed European market absorption capacity, which is substantially reduced according to the latest forecasts. I have also proposed that the quota should be designed – via end use conditions – to ensure that imports are not all concentrated on high value cuts and I have argued that an in-quota tariff rate should continue to apply to imports within the quota.
The most recent report of the European Parliament on the trade implications of the EU US trade bears out these Irish concerns in relation to the suckler cow herd in Europe which it finds will be adversely affected by the trade deal. In my meetings with the new Agriculture Commissioner I will continue to outline our concerns and seek mitigating measures in relation to the beef sector.
There have been suggestions that the agreement will allow the US to export hormone treated meat into the EU. Just to clarify the position, a decision was taken many years ago to ban the use of hormones in animals in the EU destined for the human food chain. The ban forms part of the EU positive but precautionary principle to limit the use of medical treatments to disease prevention and cure. The US takes a different approach that allows the use of hormones in the absence of scientific evidence that they may cause harm. While the US has said that it will be seeking access for its hormone treated meat to the EU as part of the TTIP negotiations, it is impossible in the current climate to see a reversal of the EU prohibition decision.
403. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2014 disadvantaged area scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41076/14]
View answerThe person named applied for the Single Payment and Disadvantaged Areas Schemes on 9th May 2014. Processing of the Single Payment Scheme and Disadvantaged Areas Scheme applications of the person named has recently been finalised. Payments will issue shortly directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
404. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the protections that are afforded to the Bilberry goat herd at Bilberry in Waterford city; the steps he is taking to ensure this unique goat breed remains protected, and genetically distinct; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41099/14]
View answer405. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to an order from his Department to ensure the Bilberry goat herd in County Waterford is kept apart from other breeds of goat, the follow up action that has been taken to ensure this order has been fully complied with; the way this issue is monitored and kept under review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41100/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 405 together.
Department Veterinary Inspectors on animal welfare grounds have instructed the herd keeper of the goats to reduce stocking levels. The herd comprises of goats, including some bilberry goats, and Department officials have been assured that no goats from the bilberry goat herd itself have been removed on foot of the request to reduce numbers.
My Department’s role in this matter is one of protecting animal welfare regardless of the breed or species. With regard to the actual identification of the bilberry strain of goat, I understand the Old Irish Goat Society is conducting research on the genetic base of the bilberry breed in the interest of actually preserving it long-term.
406. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive their 2014 disadvantaged area and single farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41111/14]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 8 May 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The EU Regulations also require that where it is not possible to make an accurate determination on the eligibility of a parcel or parcels of land by means of an assessment of the available satellite imagery, a field inspection must be undertaken to verify the eligibility of the land.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. Initial processing of this inspection identified a requirement to verify the eligibility of land declared by means of a field inspection.
On completion of this inspection the results will be finalised with the intention of issuing any payment due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
407. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the proposal to introduce paid parking in Howth, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41155/14]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, owns and directly manages six Fishery Harbour Centres located at Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Ros an Mhíl, Killybegs and An Daingean.
Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is a working fishery harbour, however it is also a very important tourist and leisure destination with many restaurants and businesses operating on the Harbour.
The question of the introduction of paid car parking on Howth Harbour, as part of an overall review of traffic management arrangements , remains under active consideration.
Income generation is not the only factor to be considered in deciding whether pay parking should be introduced in Howth, there is a broad range of other factors to be taken into account before a final decision will be made on the matter. Most importantly, the safe operation of the Harbour is of paramount concern, in this context, traffic management and parking is recognised as an issue, particularly, though not exclusively, during the busy holiday periods.
408. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41159/14]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 12 May 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The EU Regulations also require that where it is not possible to make an accurate determination on the eligibility of a parcel or parcels of land by means of an assessment of the available satellite imagery, a field inspection must be undertaken to verify the eligibility of the land.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. Initial processing of this inspection identified a requirement to verify the eligibility of land declared by means of a field inspection.
On completion of this inspection, the application will be further processing with a view to finalisation. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will contact the person named directly.
409. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area scheme payment and single farm payment will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [41160/14]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 9 May 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The EU Regulations also require that where it is not possible to make an accurate determination on the eligibility of a parcel or parcels of land by means of an assessment of the available satellite imagery, a field inspection must be undertaken to verify the eligibility of the land.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. Initial processing of this inspection identified a requirement to verify the eligibility of land declared by means of a field inspection.
On completion of this inspection the results will be finalised with the intention of issuing any payment due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
410. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue under both the single farm payment and area aid scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41162/14]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 26 April 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The EU Regulations also require that where it is not possible to make an accurate determination on the eligibility of a parcel or parcels of land by means of an assessment of the available satellite imagery, a field inspection must be undertaken to verify the eligibility of the land.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. Initial processing of this inspection identified a requirement to verify the eligibility of land declared by means of a field inspection.
On completion of this inspection the results will be finalised with the intention of issuing any payment due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
411. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay for the area based payment and the single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41186/14]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 8 May 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing inspection. Initial processing of this inspection identified a requirement to verify the eligibility of land declared by means of a field inspection.
This inspection has been completed and the results are being finalised with the intention of issuing any payment due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named .
412. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a 2013 disadvantaged area payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41197/14]
View answerA review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that several of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. Following the review of my Department’s decision, sought by the person named, a visit by a Department official to verify the position on the ground is necessary. The person named will be advised, in writing, of the findings of the verification visit as soon as possible following the visit. If the person named is not satisfied with the outcome of this review, the applicant will have the option to appeal the decision to the independently-chaired LPIS Appeals Committee.
413. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén fáth go bhfuil ró-íocaíocht faoi Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste do 2013 curtha i leith feirmeoir i gContae na Gaillimhe (sonraí leis seo); cad iad sonraí na ró-íocaíochta atá i gceist; an féidir lena Roinn sonraí agus mapaí a bhaineann leis an ró-íocaíocht seo a chur chuig an bhfeirmeoir; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [41209/14]
View answerMar is eol duit, b’fhéidir, tá mo Roinn ag déanamh scrúdaithe faoi láthair ar ghabháltais talún a hainmníodh faoi Scéim na hAoníocaíochta agus faoi Scéimeanna Íocaíochta Dírí limistéar-bhunaithe eile. Mar chuid den athbhreithniú seo, aithníodh limistéar neamh-incháilithe agus baineadh an limistéar amach as an ngabháltas a d’ainmnigh an duine ainmnithe. Cuireadh an cinneadh sin agus an ceart ar achomharc in iúl don duine ainmnithe. I ndiaidh achomhairc ón duine ainmnithe, thug mo Roinn faoi athbhreithniú iomlán ar an gcás agus diúltaíodh don achomharc a rinne an duine ainmnithe. Cuireadh toradh an athbhreithnithe in iúl don duine ainmnithe i litir dár dáta 20ú Feabhra 2014 agus cuireadh in iúl dó go raibh sé de cheart arís aige achomharc a dhéanamh chuig Coiste Achomhairc LPIS faoi chathaoirleacht neamhspleách laistigh de 3 mhí ó dháta na litreach. Níor déanadh aon achomharc go dtí seo.
414. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the disadvantaged area based payment scheme for 2014 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41241/14]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 19 April 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection and this inspection has been completed.
The inspection identified discrepancies between the area declared and the area found resulting in an over-declaration in area of less than 2 hectares . Based on the Terms and Conditions of the schemes, this results in the 2014 payments being based on the found area. The person named will be notified of the outcome of the inspection shortly.
Payments due, on the basis set out above, under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme and the Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme have been finalised and will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
415. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a dhéanfar íocaíocht faoi Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste do 2014 le feirmeoir i gContae na Gaillimhe (sonraí leis seo); cén fáth go bhfuil moill leis an íocaíocht seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [41242/14]
View answerFuarthas iarratas faoi Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste 2014 ón duine ainmnithe an 7 Bealtaine 2014. Nuair a bhí an t-iarratas próiseáilte tugadh nithe faoi deara a bhain le fíorú a dhéanamh go raibh an t-íosdlús stocála á chomhlíonadh. Faoi Scéim na Limistéar Faoi Mhíbhuntáiste 2014, tá dhá chritéar ann nach mór a shásamh i gcás iarratasóirí atá ag baint leasa as capaill chun an t-íoscheanglas dlúis stocála a chomhlíonadh. Ar dtús, ní mór don ghabháltas a bheith ag teacht leis an sainmhíniú atá ar Fhiontar Pórúcháin Eachaí agus an dara rud, ní mór do chapaill, chun go nglacfaí san áireamh iad do chríocha dlúis stocála, a bheith idir bliain agus cúig bliana agus sa chás go bhfuil níos sine, a bheith ina láir phórúcháin chun críocha na Scéime.
Chuir an duine ainmnithe seacht bpas capall chuig mo Roinn ach, ó tharla nár bhain ceachtar acu le láir phórúcháin a raibh searrach aici sna blianta 2011, 2012 nó 2013, níor comhlíonadh critéir na Scéime. Dá réir sin, níl aon íocaíocht dlite faoi Scéim 2014. Bhí oifigeach ó mo roinn i dteagmháil go díreach leis an duine ainmnithe maidir leis an ábhar seo.
416. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41287/14]
View answerThe person named applied for the Single Payment/ Disadvantaged Areas Schemes on 11 th April 2014. Processing of the applications has recently been finalised. Minor overclaims were discovered on two land parcels declared by the person named. As these overclaims were less than 3% no penalty was applicable and payments have recently issued for both schemes based on the Department’s determined area.
417. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare has not received payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41317/14]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Payment /Disadvantaged Areas scheme application on 29 April 2014. Payment has not yet issued to the person named as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not yet satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements.
Immediately the holding concerned is confirmed as having met these requirements, the case will be further processed with a view to payment issuing to the person named at the earliest possible date thereafter, provided all other Scheme requirements have been satisfied.
418. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of meetings he or officials from his Department had with a person (details supplied); the purpose of each of those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41326/14]
View answerNeither I , nor my Department officials have met with the person in the details supplied in the past twelve months.
419. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 275 of 23 September 2014, in which he stated that this matter had been resolved, if the 39 cattle which is referred to in the letter (details supplied) have now been transferred back. [41340/14]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 2 in May 2002 and received payments for two years. Following an on-farm inspection a compliance issue was identified and the REPS contract was suspended in February 2005. However, this matter has since been resolved and no debt remains in respect of the REPS contract.
My Department is undertaking a review relating to the transfer of the 39 cattle referred to in the question and officials will communicate directly with the Deputy at the earliest possible opportunity .
420. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will issue for the disadvantaged area payment scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41357/14]
View answerAn application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2014. Following the processing of this application issues relating to the verification of compliance with the minimum stocking density were identified.
Under the Terms and Conditions of the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, all those applicants availing of Sheep in order to meet the minimum stocking density requirements must have submitted their annual sheep census to my Department prior to the closing date of 14 February 2014.
The sheep census from the person named was received by my Department on 20 February 2014. Unfortunately, as this was outside the allowable closing date, the Scheme criteria have not been met and therefore no payment is due under the 2014 Scheme.
421. Deputy Dinny McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of disadvantaged area scheme grant for 2014 will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41369/14]
View answerAn application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 8 May 2014. Following the processing of this application issues relating to the verification of compliance with the minimum stocking density were identified.
Under the Terms and Conditions of the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, all those applicants availing of Sheep in order to meet the minimum stocking density requirements must have submitted their annual sheep census to my Department prior to the closing date of 14 February 2014.
The sheep census from the person named was received by my Department on 4 March 2014. Unfortunately, as this was outside the allowable closing date, the Scheme criteria have not been met and therefore no payment is due under the 2014 Scheme.
