Written Answers Nos. 88 - 95
88. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the Government’s new regional enterprise strategy will be rolled out to the midlands region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46680/14]
View answerThe aim of the Action Plan for Jobs is to help enterprises to create employment in all regions of the country. If we are to do this successfully, it is important that the economic potential of each region is maximised and that each region builds on its particular strengths and assets to provide an environment that stimulates entrepreneurship and attracts both indigenous and foreign investment. While employment has increased nationally by approximately 80,000 since the start of the Action Plan process in 2012, not all regions are yet fully experiencing the benefits of economic recovery. The pace of progress in the regions therefore needs to be accelerated through targeted supports for enterprise and job creation.
The 2014 Action Plan for Jobs includes a number of commitments to support competitive regions, including, within my own Department, developing a framework for Regional Enterprise Strategies. It is my intention that this framework will be applied to produce action-oriented plans to support enterprise growth and jobs in the regions, commencing with the Midlands. Consultation with regional stakeholders from both the private and public sector will underpin the Enterprise Strategies.
Over the past number of months, officials from Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and my Department have been involved in a series of engagements with stakeholder groups in the Midlands region, which included representatives from the enterprise sector, skills and education providers, and public bodies operating in the region.
The consultation process will continue with a Midlands Regional Enterprise Forum on the 19th December in Athlone, which will bring all the main stakeholder groups together to discuss the strengths and opportunities that can be built upon to support enterprise and jobs growth in the region. The consultation process will inform the Regional Enterprise Strategy for the Midlands which I aim to publish early in the New Year.
89. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in a single farm payment for 2014 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if it will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46529/14]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 8 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 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.
90. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be finalised regarding entitlements in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46536/14]
View answerAn application under the 2013 Single Farm Payment scheme was received from the person named on 17 April 2013 without any lands being declared. Following the submission of an appeal on 18 September 2014, this case was further reviewed, the appeal was deemed successful and 8.76 hectares have been added to the application. In this regard 8.76 entitlements have now been restored in full to the account of the person named and payment will issue in the coming weeks.
91. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding entitlements in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46553/14]
View answerUnder the Terms and Conditions of the Single Payment Scheme and other area based schemes an applicant, as well as meeting the Scheme criteria, is required to comply with EU regulatory requirements relating to Cross Compliance.
A report detailing findings of an inspection carried out by Kerry County Council on 12 February 2014 was referred to my Department’s Cross Compliance Unit for attention. This report detailed breaches relating to the cross compliance requirements under the Nitrates Regulations.
The breaches identified related to a lack of facilities to collect soiled water, slurry and silage effluent; soiled water seeping directly onto land and farm wastes being routed to an unlined Lagoon type facility leading to indirect discharge to ground water.
As similar breaches under the Nitrates Regulations had been identified within the previous three years, the regulatory provisions required that the rules on repetition be applied and this resulted in a final penalty of 60% being applied against the 2014 Direct Schemes payments.
The person named was notified of this decision on 13 June 2014. The person named has appealed this decision and this request is currently being examined. The person named will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.
In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of this review, the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.
92. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue under the 2014 disadvantaged areas scheme in respect of 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. [46582/14]
View answerAn application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 30 April 2014. Processing of this application was recently finalised and payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was issued on 26 November 2014, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
93. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding forestry premiums in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46595/14]
View answerThe Forest Service Inspector reported that the applicant’s plantation is showing signs of prolonged nutrient deficiency and, therefore, it is not up to the standard required under the grant-aid scheme. The applicant wrote to the Forest Service in November 2014 and confirmed foliar samples will be taken for analysis from the forest in the coming weeks. Until the samples are taken, the appropriate follow up works are completed, and the plantation is passed by the Forest Service Inspector no further premiums will be paid.
94. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding 2013 and 2014 single farm payment and disadvantaged areas scheme applications in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; the level of alleged ineligible land in the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46601/14]
View answerA review of the lands declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme revealed that a number of the land parcels declared contained ineligible features. In order to clarify the position regarding the level of ineligible features, my Department arranged for a ground verification check to be undertaken. The findings of this verification check were that the applicant had an over-claim greater than 20% of the area determined. Under the EU Regulations and the Terms and Conditions of the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme no payment is due where the level of over-claim is greater than 20%. The person named was notified of this decision on the 5 May 2014. The person named had received payments of €1,699.92 on 10 October 2013 under the 2013 Disadvantaged Area Scheme and €913.22 on 16 October 2013 under the 2013 Single Farm Payment Scheme, which regrettably, were deemed overpaid and have been recouped from the 2014 Single Farm payment made by my Department. A balance of €370.46 is still outstanding and will be recouped from future payments by my Department.
The person named has received a payment of €1,279.48 on 13 October 2014 under the 2014 Disadvantaged Area Scheme. In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of the verification check, the decision can be appealed to the independent LPIS Appeals Committee, within three months of the notification letter.
95. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review an application for single farm payment and headage payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46605/14]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 28 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 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.
