Wednesday, 17 Dec 2014

Written Answers Nos. 93-101

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Questions (93)

Tom Fleming

Question:

93. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the system of payments for single farm payments, disadvantaged area payments and agri-environment options scheme and introduce a front-loading payment system to ensure that all farmers would receive a minimum payment which would be a reasonable amount to ensure the viability of small family holdings and those farmers currently in the low income bracket; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48650/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In July of 2013 I initiated a process of consultation with all farming organisations and other relevant stakeholders to ascertain their views on the most appropriate application of the Direct Payment Regulation in light of Ireland’s unique agricultural profile and circumstances. The results of this consultation process were taken into account when formulating the final shape of direct payments in Ireland for the period 2015 to 2019. These decisions were notified to the EU Commission on the 1st August, 2014 as required under EU Regulations. The implementation of the new regime of direct payments is under way and the process of accepting applications under the various Schemes will begin very early in the New Year.

Analysis of the impact of the Redistributive Payment Scheme indicated that it would not involve a simple transfer of funds from those who currently hold high value entitlements to those who hold low entitlements. In many cases the transfer of funds under that scheme would counteract the benefits that farmers will obtain from the process of Internal Convergence. I have decided therefore that the redistribution of funds in Ireland should be managed through the Internal Convergence Model, a stepped five year process. This methodology is clear, predictable and easily tracked and achieves the stated objective of a gradual, phased redistribution of funds in a fair and objective manner.

Departmental Reports

Questions (94)

Tom Fleming

Question:

94. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will have the CEDRA report costed and provide the money to implement the various proposals contained in the report in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48652/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The full list of the recommendation in the CEDRA report are set out it following link:http://www.agresearch.teagasc.ie/rerc/CEDRA/List_of_Recommendations.pdf. An examination of these recommendations will illustrate that, in the majority of instances, additional resources are not required to implement CEDRA proposals. Instead the major and consistent message of the report is that a more focused and integrated delivery of the existing services is required to energise rural economic development and to achieve more effective impacts from the funding already provided. In view of the nature of the recommendations, it is not practicable, ex ante, to cost them.

While statutory responsibility and funding for the CEDRA actions remains with the relevant lead Departments, achieving its vision requires an integrated response from a wide variety of agencies. For that reason, in July this year, the Government appointed Ann Phelan, T.D, as Minister of State with specific responsibility for co-ordinating the CEDRA agenda. As its effective implementation requires an integrated response from a wide variety of agencies, Minister Phelan has established and is chairing a high level Inter-Departmental Group (IDG), involving all the main departmental actors, to assist her in achieving an integrated platform for its implementation.

Organic Farming Scheme Applications

Questions (95)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

95. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the cost neutral proposals presented to him by the organic farmers representative body to front-load payments towards the first ten hectares, thereby securing the future viability of small-scale organic farming here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48654/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department has given careful consideration to the proposal made by the above-named body to increase the payment rate for the first ten hectares under the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS). I am advised that the proposals are not cost neutral. My Department already proposes increased rates of payment under the new OFS, including a significantly increased maintenance rate which will be payable to small farmers. My Department also proposes to extend these new higher rates to existing OFS participants.

In light of the number of existing participants and potential new entrants which the Department hopes to attract, it is not possible to accommodate the further increases proposed by the above-named body within the available budget.

Island Communities

Questions (96)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

96. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the setting up of an islands working group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48662/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The details provided with the Parliamentary Question include reference to a number of schemes and supports delivered by my Department via the Rural Development Programme. The new Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 will be a key support in enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, achieving a more sustainable management of natural resources and ensuring a more balanced development of rural areas. These aims are of relevance to many of the issues raised in the submission of Comhar na nOileán which the Deputy has provided.

The new RDP has been developed following a substantial public consultation process in which Comhar na nOileán participated. The new RDP includes a range of supports which will be relevant to island communities, including

- a substantial new Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) and a number of other targeted environmental measures. The GLAS scheme is the successor to the recent REPS and AEOS schemes,

- continued strong support for Areas of Natural Constraint (formerly Disadvantaged Areas) incorporating a top up payment for island farmers,

- significant support for on farm capital investment,

- a range of knowledge transfer measures including support for European Innovation Partnerships,

- support for collaborative farming, and

- support for LEADER schemes.

Once the new RDP is formally adopted it will be supported by a number of implementation structures which will ensure direct stakeholder involvement in the effective implementation of the RDP. These include a Monitoring Committee and a National Rural Network. I have made arrangements in my Department to ensure that Comhar na nOileán is invited to participate in these structures.

Rural Development Plan

Questions (97)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

97. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to make the draft rural development plan submitted to the European Commission available to the public on his Department's website; if he has addressed the observations made by the European Commission; if he plans to make the observations of the Commission and his Department's response to same publicly available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48671/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Ireland’s draft Rural Development Programme (RDP), 2014-2020 was submitted to the European Commission on 3rd July, 2014. The draft RDP has been available on my Department’s website since that time. The formal observations of the EU Commission were received on 20th October, and a reply issued from my Department on 11th November. In relation to the observations received from the EU Commission, the release of this document would be a matter for the Commission. I understand, however, that the document is currently in the public domain. There have been intensive discussions between officials in my Department and the Commission in order to agree a RDP for formal adoption. These intensive negotiations are ongoing, and the process has involved the exchange of further information and clarifications on a very wide range of topics in recent weeks. I have committed to attend the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine at an early date to discuss the RDP and this will provide an opportunity to discuss relevant details of the RDP and the approval process.

GLAS Eligibility

Questions (98)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

98. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views of observation number 140 and 149 contained in the European Commission’s observation document Ireland, rural development programme national (details supplied) in respect of the GLAS scheme; if the observations made by the European Commission suggest that there is a requirement for 50% agreement among commonage farmers in order to be eligible for payment under GLAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48672/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Firstly I would like to point out that my priority is to put in place requirements for commonages that will deliver real and measurable environmental benefits and will fit within the framework of the Rural Development Regulations, which require that farmers are only paid for actions which exceed the baseline for the Basic Payment Scheme. At recent meetings with the Commission it was made clear that it is incumbent on Member States to ensure that payments are above the baseline and that clear evidence of same must be shown in order to secure approval for the Rural Development Programme. The questions raised by the Commission under observations 140 and 149, respectively, asked if Ireland was considering using other beneficiaries apart from farmers (e.g. land managers) and asked why we were specifically targeting commonages, and the reasons for the requirement for the 50% participation rate. To observation 140 my officials responded that traditionally we have only paid farmers under agri-environment schemes and intend to continue doing so and do not propose to extend payment to other land managers.

On observation 149, it was explained that commonages are being targeted in GLAS because they are hugely important environmental areas and include a very high proportion of Natura land. My officials pointed out that they are particularly vulnerable habitats and that joint management will deliver enhanced environmental dividends. On this point, there is general agreement amongst all stakeholders that the key to managing these valuable habitats is a single Commonage Management Plan (CMP). I am aware of the concerns raised by hill farmers in this regard.

I am very confident that we can deliver a successful implementation strategy for these commonages and I intend to contact the various representatives in the very near future to outline what I believe is achievable. My focus now is to secure Commission approval to the Rural Development Programme at the earliest possible date so that I can open GLAS to applications, and agreement by all stakeholders on the way forward in terms of commonages is crucial in this regard.

Question No. 99 withdrawn.

Sugar Industry

Questions (100)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

100. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide significant funding to assist the revival of Ireland's sugar beet industry in 2015; his 2015 plan for the restarting of what has previously been a very important industry here; the actions he has already taken to facilitate the return of sugar production to Ireland in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48709/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

By way of explanation I would like to give the Deputy a short note on the background to this issue. In 2011 I met with two separate groups which had conducted feasibility studies into the possibility of establishing a new sugar/bioethanol facility in the country. The figures published by the interested groups who are investigating the possibility of building a new facility, indicated that the overall capital costs involved could range from €250 million to €400 million, depending on what type of facility would be constructed. I informed both groups at the time, and many times since in the Dáil and through the media, that any venture to develop a combined sugar/bioethanol production facility in Ireland would have to be a viable commercial proposition and supported by a business case which is sufficiently robust to attract the funding from investors for the very substantial capital investment required. I clearly informed both groups at the time that it was my job to look for agreement at EU level to allow for the growing of sugar beet for the manufacture of sugar, at the earliest possible date.

In this connection, I secured agreement as part of the overall CAP reform package at the last EU Council of Agriculture Ministers, which I chaired in June 2013, to abolish all sugar quotas by 30 September 2017.

This agreement removes, with effect from 1 October 2017, the current EU quota barrier for operators in Ireland or other Member States, wishing to re-establish a sugar industry. At the time, this agreement was welcomed by those parties who are interested in seeking to re-establish a sugar industry here. It is now up to those same entities to move the project forward and to garner sufficient commercial and financial support to turn their plans into a viable reality.

Animal Welfare

Questions (101)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

101. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the rules governing the vaccination and transportation of pet puppies to the UK are to be changed on 1 January 2015, in view of the fact that both islands are rabies free; the reason it will be necessary to wait until a pup is 12 weeks old for rabies vaccination and then wait a further 21 days before transportation to the UK; his views on the additional costs being placed on registered pet puppy breeders; his further views that puppies produced under the new regime will be too old for their target market in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48725/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

While rabies is still very widespread in the world with two-thirds of all countries affected, there are thankfully very few cases of rabies in humans reported in the EU, and most EU Member States including Ireland, have not had any indigenous cases for decades. Cases of rabies in wildlife have reduced considerably with the help of EU co-funded control and eradication programmes and western EU Member States are now free of rabies. Recent rabies scares in mainland Europe have highlighted the need for ongoing vigilance. The considerable costs associated with containing a case of rabies are also something to take into account. In accordance with EU law, all pets entering and leaving Ireland must have a valid rabies vaccination evidenced by a pet passport or a veterinary health certificate. The special derogation from a rabies vaccination that was in place in respect of movement of pets between Ireland and the United Kingdom expired on 1 January 2012 and the rabies rules on pet movement within the EU are applied uniformly across the EU.

With effect from 29 December 2014, when Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council will come into operation, dogs must be a minimum of 12 weeks old before a rabies vaccine can be administered. The immunity takes effect 21 days after vaccination, which means that, in fact, pups must be a minimum of 15 weeks of age before they are eligible to travel between Member States of the EU. This new minimum age requirement is based on the veterinary and scientific advice that an animal less than 3 months old may be too young to effectively vaccinate against rabies. A lower age limit would be difficult to justify scientifically and taking account of the risks attaching to greater freedom of movement within and into the Community.

Since the new requirement is applicable to all Member States, it should not disadvantage puppy breeders in Ireland.