Brendan Griffin
Question:297. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will increase mackerel quotas in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47793/14]
View answerFish Quotas
Questions (297)
Written answers
Mackerel quotas, as with all other quotas under the Common Fisheries Policy, cannot be set unilaterally by any Member State. The EU mackerel quota is dependent on the outcome of annual Coastal State negotiations between the EU, Norway and Faeroes as it is a stock that is widespread in the North East Atlantic. Account must also be taken of the interests of Iceland (not been party to recent agreements, although a Coastal State) as well as Russia and Greenland. Ireland is the second largest mackerel quota holder within the EU (after the UK) and, as a result of this year’s negotiations, in which we played an active part, the mackerel quota for Irish fishermen for 2015 will be 89,222 tonnes. With the exception of the 2014 quota the quota agreed for 2015 is the highest mackerel quota available to Irish fishermen for very many years.
The 2014 quota was set at an artificially high level, above scientific advice, due to the extraordinary circumstances of the March 2014 agreement which lead to a partial resolution of the international mackerel sharing dispute which had been ongoing for some years.
Mackerel is of course our single most valuable fishery and the agreement provides a high quota, stability and certainty for the Irish pelagic fishing Industry.
However, I remain unhappy with the overall sharing arrangement agreed in March and I do not agree with the amount set aside for other parties such as Iceland. This sharing arrangement remains fixed until 2018 but at that stage I would expect that the relevant arrangement can and should be revised. I have of course worked closely with the Federation of Irish Fishermen throughout the negotiation process.
Single Payment Scheme Payments
Questions (298)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:298. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue under the single payment scheme for 2014 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. [47800/14]
View answerWritten answers
An application under the 2014 Single Payment / Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 15 May 2014. Following initial processing, an issue associated with a commonage parcel declared by the person named was discovered. This matter has recently been resolved and payment will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste Íocaíochtaí
Questions (299)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:299. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a dhéanfar íocaíocht faoi Scéim na Limistéar faoi Míbhuntáiste do 2014 le feirmeoir i gContae na Gaillimhe (sonraí tugtha); cén fáth a bhfuil moill leis an íocaíocht sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [47808/14]
View answerWritten answers
Rinneadh iarratas an duine ainmnithe faoi Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntásite a phróiseáil le déanaí agus eiseofar íocaíocht go luath díreach chuig cuntas bainc ainmnithe an té sin.
Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments
Questions (300)
Dan Neville
Question:300. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all disadvantaged area scheme moneys will be paid before Christmas 2014 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; if details of payments will be supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47852/14]
View answerWritten answers
The person named submitted an application under the 2014 Single Payment and Disadvantaged Area Schemes on 30 September 2014. Unfortunately in accordance with regulations governing the scheme the application cannot be processed as it was lodged more than twenty five working days late. A letter notifying the person named has issued notifying them of this decision and outlining the review procedure. An appeal has been received from the herd owner and a decision on this review will be made shortly. An Official from my Department will be in contact with the herd owner to apprise him of the situation.
Departmental Meetings
Questions (301, 302)
Lucinda Creighton
Question:301. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department held meetings separate to the management advisory committee meetings which were attended by either him or the Minister of State and the management advisory committee; if so, if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of such meetings that occurred in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47856/14]
View answerLucinda Creighton
Question:302. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of management advisory committee meetings which were held for each of the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of management advisory committee meetings that were attended by him, the Minister of State, the political adviser, the Secretary General and all other titles of attendees in the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47872/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together.
Management Advisory Committee (MAC) meetings take place in my Department on a fortnightly basis and are attended by all members of MAC except when unavailable due to other commitments. One of my advisors attends all MAC meetings. Ministerial MAC meetings happen periodically and are attended by both myself and Minister(s) of State. I meet with individual members of the MAC on a weekly basis and am in regular contact with them otherwise. Likewise the Minister’s of State in my department are also in regular contact with the appropriate member of the MAC in his/her particular area of responsibility.
Tables of attendance for the years requested by the Deputy will be supplied directly to her.
Non MAC member officials of my Department attend MAC meetings from time to time for specific agenda items. These officials are generally at the level of Principal and Assistant Principal Officer level.
Stocking Densities
Questions (303)
Tom Fleming
Question:303. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if donkeys continue to be eligible for inclusion in the stocking density calculation for 2015 and subsequent years where the animals in question are appropriately registered and in respect of which the relevant identification documentation has been issued, showing the animals concerned as being in the ownership of the given applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47889/14]
View answerWritten answers
Under the new Rural Development Plan 2015-2020, it is proposed that under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme 2015, holdings of eligible applicants will be required to maintain a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units for a minimum retention period of seven consecutive months, in addition to maintaining an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the twelve months of the 2015 Scheme year. Donkeys will continue to be eligible for inclusion in the stocking density calculation where the animals in question are appropriately registered in the name of the applicant and maintained on his/her holding. The premises of all who meet these criteria must be registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in accordance Control on Places where Horses are Kept Regulations 2014 (S.I. 113 of 2014).
Land Parcel Identification System
Questions (304)
Brendan Griffin
Question:304. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on a 2013 land parcel information system review on a single farm payment application in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47897/14]
View answerWritten answers
A review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that a number of the parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. Following a 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 now necessary. The person named will be advised, in writing, of the findings of the verification visit as soon as possible following the visit. In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of this verification check, the decision can be appealed to the independent LPIS Appeals Committee, within 4 weeks of the notification letter.
Single Payment Scheme Payments
Questions (305)
Sean Fleming
Question:305. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an area aid payment will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47901/14]
View answerWritten answers
The person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 1 4 May 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.
The inspection identified discrepancies between the areas declared and the area found resulting in an over-declaration in area of less than 3% and less than 2 ha in respect of the Single Farm Payment Scheme. Under the Terms and Conditions of this scheme this resulted in the 2014 payment being based on the area found.
The person named was notified of this decision on 22 October 2014. The person named was also informed of the right to seek a review of this decision. In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of any such review, the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.
Payment of the advance and balancing payments under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme issued on the basis set out above to the nominated bank account of the person named on 28 October and 1 December 2014, respectively.
The payment due under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme was not affected by the over-declaration referred to above. Payment under this scheme issued to the nominated bank account of the person named on 30 October 2014.
GLAS Eligibility
Questions (306)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:306. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers on farms which have commonage grazing rights but which do not actively avail of their commonage rights to graze stock will be eligible to apply for the new GLAS scheme for the remainder of their farm land which they own outright; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47909/14]
View answerWritten answers
Commonage land is a priority environmental asset under GLAS, which in turn guarantees priority access to the scheme. Farmers who declared commonage land on their Single Payment application in 2014 must commit to joining a Commonage Management Plan as part of their GLAS application, in the same way that a farmer with any other priority environmental asset must agree to undertake the appropriate actions set out for that asset, whether it is for example a threatened species of farmland bird, a high status water course or an important habitat. It is not possible, therefore, for a farmer who declared commonage land in their 2014 SPS application to avoid addressing that asset and opting to come into GLAS on the basis of his or her other land only.
GLAS Establishment
Questions (307)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:307. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when applications will be open for the new GLAS scheme; when first payments will issue for early entrants to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47911/14]
View answerWritten answers
GLAS (the Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme) is part of a suite of proposed measures under Ireland’s 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 now 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.
Stocking Densities
Questions (308)
Tom Fleming
Question:308. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the provision he has made for all donkeys which will not be eligible for inclusion in the stocking density calculation for 2015 as most farmers will not want to keep them and the donkey sanctuaries will be at full capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47912/14]
View answerWritten answers
Under the new Rural Development Plan 2015-2020, it is proposed that under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme 2015, holdings of eligible applicants will be required to maintain a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units for a minimum retention period of seven consecutive months, in addition to maintaining an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the twelve months of the 2015 Scheme year. Donkeys will continue to be eligible for inclusion in the stocking density calculation where the animals in question are appropriately registered in the name of the applicant and maintained on his/her holding. The premises of all who meet these criteria must be registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in accordance Control on Places where Horses are Kept Regulations 2014 (S.I. 113 of 2014).
Single Payment Scheme Eligibility
Questions (309)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:309. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of a field inspection under the single farm payment and area aid scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; when payment will issue to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47940/14]
View answerWritten answers
The 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 application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection.
This inspection has been completed and payment due under the Single Farm Payment Scheme issued to the nominated bank account of the person named on 11 December 2014. Payment due under the Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme will issue as soon as possible.
Rural Development Programme
Questions (310)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:310. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposed salary cap for young farmers under the rural development programme; and the proposed salary cap for off farming income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47951/14]
View answerWritten answers
Following consultation with the Direct Payment Advisory Committee comprising of members of the main farming organisations and advisory services, and in the context of the limited funding available to the National Reserve under Pillar I, I have decided that an off-farm income limit of €40,000 will be applied to all applicants to the National Reserve. This income limit applies to National Reserve Scheme only and not to payments under the Young Farmers Scheme. There are no conditions proposed in the draft Terms and Conditions relating to salary or off farm income for the Young Farmers investment scheme under the Rural Development Programme 2014 -2020.
Woodland Improvement Scheme
Questions (311)
John Deasy
Question:311. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown by county of the number of applications received and approved under the native woodland establishment scheme since August 2011. [47960/14]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested is set out in the following table.
Native Woodland Establishment Scheme
|
County |
Applications Received since August 2011 |
Applications Approved since August 2011 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
1 |
|
Clare |
8 |
10 |
|
Cork |
1 |
1 |
|
Donegal |
1 |
1 |
|
Galway |
5 |
5 |
|
Kerry |
13 |
13 |
|
Kilkenny |
9 |
9 |
|
Laois |
1 |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
5 |
6 |
|
Longford |
1 |
1 |
|
Mayo |
19 |
19 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
1 |
|
Offaly |
4 |
5 |
|
Roscommon |
1 |
1 |
|
Sligo |
1 |
1 |
|
Tipperary |
4 |
4 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
1 |
|
Westmeath |
3 |
3 |
|
Wicklow |
7 |
7 |
Ministerial Travel
Questions (312)
Terence Flanagan
Question:312. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of all official foreign trips he and Ministers of State in his Department plan to take between now and the end of 2015; if he will provide the names of the persons he and Ministers of State in his Department will meet on these trips; the purpose of the trips; the duration of the trips; if there are plans to use all of these trips to promote Ireland as a good place for doing business and as a destination for foreign direct investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48026/14]
View answerWritten answers
At this point in time, my plans, and those of my Ministers of State, for official foreign visits for 2015 are not yet finalised. However, it goes without saying, that any foreign travel undertaken next year by the Ministers of State and I, will be with a view to promoting Ireland as a good place for doing business, as a supplier of high-quality sustainably-produced food and beverages and as a destination for foreign direct investment. I will, of course, attend the regular meetings of the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers in Brussels and Luxembourg.
Single Payment Scheme Payments
Questions (313)
Pat Breen
Question:313. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of headage and single farm payments will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48047/14]
View answerWritten answers
The person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas scheme application on 29 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. The inspection identified discrepancies between the areas declared and the area found resulting in an over-declaration in area of between 3% and 20% in respect of the Single Payment Scheme. Under the Terms and Conditions of this scheme this results in the 2014 payment being based on the found area having been reduced by double the difference between the area found and the area declared.
Payment due, on the basis set out above, under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
The results of the inspection as it applies to the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme are currently being finalised with the intention of issuing any payment due as soon as possible.
The person named will be notified of the outcome of the inspection shortly and of the right to seek a review of this decision. In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of any such review, the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.
Single Payment Scheme Payments
Questions (314)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:314. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48053/14]
View answerWritten answers
The person named submitted a 2014 Single Payment / Disadvantaged Areas scheme application on 22 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 and this inspection has been finalised. Payment due under the Single Farm Payment Scheme issued to the nominated bank account of the person named on 15 December 2014.
Forestry Grants
Questions (315)
Brendan Griffin
Question:315. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his officials have engaged with a person (details supplied) in County Kerry regarding a forestry plantation appeal and options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48122/14]
View answerWritten answers
My officials wrote to the person in question on 26 November last outlining the reasons for the refusal of his application to afforest his land. He was also advised that it is open to him to appeal this decision by writing to the Director of the Agriculture Appeals Office setting out the grounds for his appeal. He was further advised that it is open to him to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman if he considers that he has been treated unfairly in the determination of his application.
Milk Prices
Questions (316)
Brendan Griffin
Question:316. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to raising this issue in September, the measures he may take to protect milk prices and dairy farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48125/14]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, 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, in their recent 2015 Outlook Conference, relayed an expectation 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 take account of 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 requisite 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.
Teagasc Research
Questions (317)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:317. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the proposal to reduce the amount of sheep research being carried out by Teagasc in Athenry, County Galway, particularly as this is the only centre in the country where Teagasc carries out research on sheep; if he has discussed this matter with Teagasc and raised concerns regarding its proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48190/14]
View answerWritten answers
Teagasc operate as a separate state agency under the Department’s aegis and decisions relating to the operation of their research centres are operational matters for the Teagasc Authority. The Authority is representative of the main stakeholder groups in the agri-food sector including the farming organisations. The Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, is part of the Teagasc ‘Animal & Grassland’ research programme. Its mission is to produce high quality ‘animal science research’ to increase the profitability and competitiveness of Irish animal production systems. In relation to the sheep sector, Athenry plays a key role in developing competitive, profitable and sustainable systems of sheep production. The sheep research demonstration farm at Athenry places particular emphasis on developing profitable ‘grass-based systems’ of sheep production so as to capitalise on Ireland’s natural competitive advantage in grass production.
Following stakeholder representations over a number of years, Teagasc proposes to establish a ‘suckler’ demonstration farm in Athenry to serve farmers in the West of Ireland. The project is modelled on the well known Greenfield dairy demonstration farm in Kilkenny, which annually attracts large numbers of farmers and discussion groups. The Greenfield model is very highly regarded, and provides a public good demonstration service to all farmers in the dairy sector. It is envisaged that the Athenry suckler project would operate along similar lines with the aim of demonstrating to farmers, the profit that can be obtained from a well run suckler beef farm.
I understand that Teagasc intends to establish the suckler demonstration farm on rented land in Athenry. The existing sheep research programme will continue unaffected on lands that Teagasc own in Athenry. My Department has only recently been approached by Teagasc to see if some Department owned land in Athenry could be made available for the suckler demonstration farm and this matter is currently under examination.
I appreciate the important contribution that the Athenry research station makes to the development and evaluation of research relevant to the sheep sector. Teagasc is satisfied that a suckler demonstration farm can be established in Athenry on adjacent rented lands without impacting on the existing sheep research programme.