Written Answers Nos. 320-334
320. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an agri-environment options scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1337/15]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from 1 September 2011 and payments have issued in respect of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years. Under the EU Regulations governing the 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. The application of the person named was also selected for inspection which took place on the 11 August 2014. Issues arose which required correspondence between Department Officials and the person named which resulted in a delay in processing the file. These issues have now been resolved and the file will be processed based on the Inspection findings with the intention of issuing payment for 2014 as soon as possible.
321. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the research that has taken place or is taking place regarding the carbon sequestration capabilities of farms here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1362/15]
View answerScientific research has a central role to play in developing our understanding of the carbon sequestration potential of our natural land resources. To this end, my Department recognises the important role that the land use sector plays in mitigating greenhouse gases and is strongly committed to providing funding for targeted research in the area of carbon sequestration. Since 2010, my Department has provided more than €4.9 million towards on-going research into the carbon sequestration potential of agricultural and forest lands. A list of these projects, and completed projects, is provided in the Appendix.
The beneficiaries of research awards – including Teagasc and Irish Third Level institutions – are examining the effects of differing agricultural and silvicultural practices on soil organic carbon stocks. In addition, other projects are examining the effects of land use change and tillage management on carbon sink activity.
One of the larger projects my Department has funded is ‘Gaseous Emissions and Land Use Network – GHG Ireland’. This network aims to bring together, in a four year initiative, all principal investigators working in the field of agricultural climate change research. The main focus of the network is to improve our understanding of carbon stock changes in agricultural soils so that we can contribute to the development of a more robust inventory, and underpin future accounting for these categories. My Department has also funded a project on the management of soil organic carbon in Irish agricultural systems.
In addition, my Department has funded a number of research projects under the CARBiFOR (Carbon Sequestration in Irish Forest Ecosystems) programme in order to improve the estimation and reporting of carbon sequestration in forests in Ireland, including farm forests. Currently this work is being funded by the Department under the CForRep project, which is coordinated by University College Dublin and also involves The University of Limerick and University College Cork. Further details of the project can be found at http://www.ucd.ie/cforrep/ Appendix:
|
Reference |
Lead Institution |
Project name |
Award |
|
06/S/403 |
TCD |
Managing soil Organic Carbon in Irish Agricultural Systems |
€838,728 |
|
07/S/528 |
Teagasc |
Assessing the Greenhouse Gas budget of eco-tillage and other mitigation options for arable systems |
€653,506 |
|
10/S/716 |
Teagasc |
Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Initiative for Ireland |
€1,698,136 |
|
11/S/152 |
Teagasc |
Improving the productivity of heavy wet grassland for delivery of Food Harvest 2020 |
€534,925 |
|
11/C/ 204 |
UCD |
ECOVALUE: Evaluating the ecosystem services of forests in Ireland |
€201,755 |
|
11/C/205 |
UCD |
CFORREP: Additions and refinements to the Irish forest carbon accounting and reporting tool |
€1,485,708 |
|
13/S/468 |
Teagasc |
Soil Quality Assessment and Research |
€1,017,315 |
322. Deputy Dinny McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment for 2013 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1366/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2013 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme application on 8 May 2013. EU regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on-farm inspections, be completed. The 2013 application of the person named was selected for a cross compliance animal identification and registration inspection and a ground eligibility inspection. The cross compliance inspection identified breaches in relation to sheep identification and registration requirements. This resulted in a 3% penalty being applied against the 2013 payments. The person named was notified of this decision on 17 October 2013.
The ground eligibility inspection identified discrepancies between the area declared and the area found resulting in an over-declaration in area of greater than 20%. Under the terms and conditions of the Single Payment Scheme this resulted in no payment in respect of the 2013 scheme. The person named was notified of this decision on 3 January 2014.
The person named sought a review of these decisions. The review of the cross compliance penalty was unsuccessful and the penalty was increased from 3% to 5%. The review of the outcome of ground eligibility inspection was successful resulting in no area over-declaration penalty applying.
The person named was notified of the outcome the review on 15 October 2014. The person named was also informed of the right to appeal the decision to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months. I understand that no such appeal has been lodged with the Appeals Office to date.
Payment due under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme, on the basis set out above, will issue to the nominated bank account of the person as soon as possible.
323. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when applications to transfer entitlements will be completed by his Department for herd owners (details supplied) in west Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1389/15]
View answerThree Transfer of Entitlement applications, from the persons named, were received in my Department and the processing of all applications has been completed. Payment will issue in the coming days.
324. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara bunaithe ar an treoir a thug an Roinn Caiteachas Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe do gach Roinn, cad é líon agus cad iad gráid na bpost dá mbeidh státseirbhísigh atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge agus sa Bhéarla ag teastáil; cad é líon na bpost sin a bhfuil duine leis an gcumas cuí Gaeilge agus Béarla iontu cheana féin, arna bhriseadh síos de réir gráid; cén cháilíocht Ghaeilge atá riachtanach do na poist sin; i gcás nach bhfuil an treoir ón Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe comhlíonta, cad é údar na moille agus cén uair a dhéanfar an scrúdú; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [1424/15]
View answerGo dtí seo, tá dhá phost i mo Roinn ina bhfuil inniúlacht i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla de dhíth. Post Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin i Rannán Gnóthaí Corparáide na Roinne agus post Oifigeach Cléireachais in Ionad Cuan Iascaigh Ros an Mhíl iad na poist sin. Tá líofacht i nGaeilge de dhíth sa dá phost.
Tá an post Oifigeach Feidhmiúchán le líonadh faoi láthair mar gheall ar ardú céime agus líonfar é chomh luath agus is féidir.
325. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision on a review of single farm payments will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1473/15]
View answerAs the person named does not hold payments entitlements under the Single Payments, there is no payment due to her under that Scheme. However, an application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 29 April 2014 and processing of same has recently been completed. Payment under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is due to issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.
326. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of a disadvantaged area payments and-or agri-environment options scheme 2014 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1474/15]
View answerAn application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 15 April 2014. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 15 October 2014. The application of the person named is being reviewed in the context of a wider investigation into payments under the non-productive capital investments element of AEOS.
While this investigation is in progress and in order not to compromise the outcome of the investigation, I do not propose to make any further comments at this time.
327. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of agri-environment options scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1475/15]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) with effect from 1 November 2010 and payment has issued in respect of the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years. Under the EU Regulations governing the 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 been successfully completed in respect of the 2014 Scheme year and 75% payment will issue shortly. The balancing 25% payment will follow thereafter.
328. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a forest road grant payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1478/15]
View answerAn application for payment of grant aid under the Forest Road Scheme was submitted to the Department on 21 July 2014. Following an on-site inspection, it was determined that remedial works were required in order to bring the road up to grant standard and the person named was notified accordingly.
On 23 December 2014 the Department was notified that these remedial works had been completed. The application was forwarded to the local Forestry Inspector to confirm the position with regard to these works. As soon as this examination is completed a decision on eligibility for payment of grant aid will be made and the person named will be notified.
329. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive their single farm payment. [1487/15]
View answerAn application under the 2014 Single Farm Payment scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2014. Processing of this application was finalised with the advance and balancing payments issuing to the nominated bank account of the person named on 16 October 2014 and 1 December 2014 respectively.
330. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their single farm payment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1491/15]
View answerAn application under 2014 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2014. Processing of the application identified an issue in relation to recently forested land. This issue has now been resolved and payment will shortly issue, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
331. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their agri-environment options scheme year three payment. [1495/15]
View answerThe application of the person named is being reviewed in the context of a wider investigation by my Department into payments under the non-productive capital investments element of AEOS. In order not to compromise the outcome of the investigation, I do not propose to make any further comment at this time.
332. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 232 of 18 November 2014, if payment under the disadvantaged area scheme 2014 has issued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1498/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Payment / Disadvantaged Areas scheme application on 14 May 2014. Payment has not issued to the person named as, the holding concerned has not satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements.
333. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2013 single farm payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1548/15]
View answerA review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that a number of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. Following an appeal from the person named, a visit by a Department official to verify the position was necessary to progress the matter. The person named was notified of the outcome of the inspection in a letter dated 25 September 2014 and advised of the right of appeal to the independently-chaired LPIS Appeals Committee. The results of the verification visit were processed and the outstanding payment due under the Single Payment Scheme issued on 19 December 2014.
334. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all cuts of meat and all parts of beef animals, including trimmings, are covered under the new agreement allowing beef onto the United States market; the certification and tests required for access to this market; if these tests and certification can be carried out in this State at present; the amount of sales expected on this market in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1569/15]
View answerIn June 2014, the US authorities sent a team of inspectors to Ireland in order to carry out an equivalence re-instatement audit . A number of Irish beef processing establishments which had applied for approval to export to the US were audited. The final report of the audit visit was received at the end of December 2014 and is available on the website of the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS). FSIS has confirmed that: “ Ireland has consistently and effectively implemented a beef slaughter inspection system that satisfies all criteria for equivalence with the FSIS meat inspection system”. This equivalence recognition has led to the re-opening of the US market to exports of beef from Ireland. However, before trade can commence a number of technical details remain to be concluded e.g. formally listing plants eligible to export, agreeing a veterinary health certificate covering both animal and public health, the eligibility of certain cuts including trimmings and the level of testing required for some intact cuts.
As regards the testing required, it will be the responsibility of the Food Business Operator (FBO) to have the required tests carried out at an approved laboratory of their own choice. I am informed some Irish based private laboratories are in a position to provide such a service to processors. In addition, verification samples will be taken by my officials and will be tested in the Department’s laboratory complex in Backweston.
In accordance with normal practice, the certification of consignments to the US will be the responsibility of the official veterinarian in charge of the listed establishment.
The total US beef market is estimated at 11 million metric tonnes. It is split 60: 40 between foodservice and grocery retail (by volume). Approximately 10% (by volume) is imported, the bulk of which is manufacturing beef. Demand for Irish beef there is expected to be immediate and exceptionally strong. I know that some of the leading Irish beef exporters have had people on the ground in the US for some time now in preparation for this announcement and they are reporting huge opportunities for Irish companies when the trade does commence. Bord Bia has identified the primary target for US market entry as white tablecloth restaurants in key culinary centres such as New York City, Boston and Washington DC, followed by listings in premium grocery retailers initially in the North Eastern states. With record beef prices currently prevailing in the US, opportunities for Irish manufacturing beef are also being explored.
