Written Answers Nos. 223 - 234
223. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a 2014 single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46983/14]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 24 April 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on-farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. This inspection has been completed and the results are now 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.
224. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when GLAS payments will commence in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47023/14]
View answerGLAS (the Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme) is part of a suite of proposed measures under the new Rural Development Programme (RDP) which was submitted to the European Commission in July . The Commission services have recently notified us of their observations on the draft Scheme, to which my Department provided immediate and detailed replies. Discussions are continuing with the Commission, with a view to gaining approval at the earliest possible date. Once approval is granted, my Department will move to open the Scheme for applications.
I anticipate that between 25,000 and 30,000 farmers could be approved for entry to GLAS next year and it will take some time to process those applications. As with the introduction of previous agri-environmental schemes, payment in the first year of application (2015) will be on a part-year basis, followed by annual payments for the following full 5 calendar years.
225. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way a person (details supplied) in County Mayo may ask for a review of or appeal a deduction in a single farm payment if the person has not been provided with details or supplied with maps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47029/14]
View answerA review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that two of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. However, while the person named was notified of this decision and of his right of appeal, to date no such appeal has been received. It remains open to the person named to appeal, should he so wish.
226. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he plans to spend the €27 million reimbursement, in accordance with Article 26(5) of Regulation (EU) No. 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and Council, of the appropriations carried over from financial year 2014. [47046/14]
View answerMy Department is now putting procedures in place to issue the €27.1 million Financial Discipline reimbursement to farmers early in 2015. In accordance with the requirements, the reimbursement will be made to farmers who were eligible for payment under the 2014 Single Farm Payment and, who had a Financial Discipline deduction applied to the payments made to them on amounts greater than €2,000. The rate of payment per applicant will be calculated as a percentage of the amounts paid to these farmers in excess of €2,000.
227. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue under the agri-environment options scheme for 2012, 2013 and 2014 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47072/14]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) with effect from 1 November 2010 and has received payment in respect of the 2010 and 2011 Scheme years.
However, for 2012 the relevant application under the 2012 Single Payment Scheme was not made until 19 December 2012 and, therefore, in accordance with regulations governing the scheme, it could not be processed as it was lodged more than twenty-five working days late.The person named appealed this decision to the Independent Appeals Committee, and the decision was upheld.
In accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the AEOS scheme, as a valid Single Payment Scheme application was not received, a 100% penalty will apply to the AEOS payment in respect of the 2012 scheme year . As a result, no payment will issue for that year.
My Department is currently processing the application in respect of 2013 and 2014.
228. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the Teagasc statement regarding a dramatic reduction in milk prices in 2015 which, if allowed to happen, will decimate the income of dairy farmers and threaten their viability; his strategy to counteract this scenario; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47103/14]
View answerI assume the Deputy is referring to the publication of the Teagasc Annual Review and Outlook for 2015. Dairy Prices are a function of global market dynamics, with supply and demand issues in markets across the globe affecting prices across different dairy commodity groups in domestic markets. Price volatility is a continuing feature of dairy commodity markets, and it is clear that managing the price peaks and troughs in a way that allows farmers and others to plan ahead is a significant challenge for the sector.
After two years of extremely high prices, the combination of strong production in key dairy producing countries, including the USA, New Zealand, Australia and the European Union, driven by good weather, increased cow numbers in the US and strong cereal harvests, has seen the emergence of a surplus in dairy products on international markets coming into 2015. Furthermore, with Russia and China accounting for 27% of the traded world market in the dairy sector, the effect of surplus stocks in the Chinese market along with the displacement effect of the Russian ban can be seen as critical factors in setting the context for price evolution in the sector.
The anticipated decline in 2015 largely reflects the impact of the aforementioned developments on global dairy markets. Teagasc expects that average Irish milk prices in 2015 will fall to 27 cent per litre, a reduction of over 10 cent per litre on the average for 2014. However it should be noted that this follows several years of very good incomes on dairy farms. Furthermore, Teagasc are clear that these negative effects are expected to be temporary in nature.
Under the new Common Agriculture Policy there is a range of tools available to mitigate the worst impact of downward price volatility, including Aids to Private Storage, Intervention and Export Refunds and I have called on the EU Commission to deploy these tools as appropriate. The Single Farm Payment will also provide a measure of income stability during this difficult period. I have also asked the banking sector to tailor their financial products to allow for the kind of price volatility that will be a feature of international dairy markets, and of course co-ops have a role to play in ensuring that their contractual arrangements with suppliers provide a measure of stability. A focus on innovation and the production of added value products will also have a role to play in mitigating the impact of volatility, and a greater use of futures markets may also feature among the tools deployed by the sector.
In terms of how this will evolve in the medium term, Teagasc, in common with a number of other commentators, anticipate that lower milk prices will lead to a slowdown in the expansion of milk production globally through 2015, with global dairy markets set to witness signs of recovery as the year progresses. In the medium to longer term population growth and increasing affluence in developing countries will continue to drive strong growth in demand for dairy products, and Irish producers will be well placed to take full advantage of this demand.
229. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an agri-environment options scheme 2 payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47134/14]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from 1 September 2011 and full payment has issued in respect of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years.
Under the EU Regulations governing this Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. These checks have now been successfully completed in respect of the 2014 Scheme year and payments will issue shortly.
230. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is funding information nights through Teagasc regarding local farming issues; and the entitlements a farmer receives for the fee of €145 paid to Teagasc yearly. [47151/14]
View answerTeagasc has statutory responsibility for the provision of education, advisory and research services to the agri-food sector. It is an operational matter for Teagasc to prioritise activities in the delivery of these services. Delivery is overseen by a governing Authority that is representative of the main stakeholder groups in the agri-food sector. The cost of delivery is met from annual exchequer grant aid allocations to Teagasc and funding generated by them from charges for advisory fees etc.
In line with its statutory remit, Teagasc provides local information meetings for all farmers and these events are advertised publically in local newspapers, radio and sometimes in the national press. The service is provided by Teagasc on a ‘public good’ basis and all events are open to the general public and free of charge.
Teagasc also provide specialised advisory services to over 40,000 contracted farm clients who pay fees to Teagasc based on the level of support required from an advisor. Three core advisory support packages have been established offering a range of supports to which additional services can be added. Farm clients with smaller holdings can avail of a Teagasc support package for an annual fee of €145. Services provided include technical assistance with Single Farm Payment application, personal invitations to Teagasc event/newsletters etc. and inspection support when it arises.
231. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of the single farm payment scheme and area aid scheme for 2014 will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47172/14]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 17 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. My Department is now finalising this inspection with the intention of issuing any payments due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
232. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive disadvantaged areas scheme and single payment scheme payments for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47178/14]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 11 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. My Department is now finalising this inspection with the intention of issuing any payments due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
233. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding farm payments and an inspection in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47210/14]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 31 March 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. My Department is now finalising this inspection with the intention of issuing any payments due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
234. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding payments in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47213/14]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 15 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 eligibility inspection. This inspection has been completed and the results have been finalised. Payments due will issue to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.
