Pat Breen
Question:290. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2312/15]
View answerSingle Payment Scheme Payments
Questions (290)
Written answers
An application under the 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas scheme was received from the person named on 22 April 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 and 22 December respectively. As previously indicated to the Deputy, payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued to the applicant on 15 October 2014 with a further payment due to issue immediately the holding of the person named is registered in accordance with the Diseases of Animal Act 1966 (Registration of Horse Premises). The applicant has been informed of this requirement.
Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications
Questions (291)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:291. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of a review in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal regarding their agri-environment options scheme application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2442/15]
View answerWritten answers
The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from 1 September 2011 and full entitlements have issued in respect of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years. A review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that several of the land parcels declared 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 recently advised by letter of the successful outcome of this appeal. Their agri environment option scheme file will now be processed in the light of this successful Single Payment Scheme appeal.
Aquaculture Licence Applications
Questions (292, 299)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:292. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an oyster licence in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2447/15]
View answerMichael Healy-Rae
Question:299. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an oyster licence in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2617/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 299 together.
The applications for aquaculture licences referred to by the Deputy are in respect of sites located in Castlemaine Harbour, which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 site).
All applications in ‘Natura’ areas are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. My Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is engaged in a comprehensive programme of gathering the necessary baseline data appropriate to the Conservation Objectives of ‘Natura’ areas. This data collection programme is substantially complete. This is followed by data analysis and the setting of appropriate Conservation Objectives by the NPWS. Once this process is complete all new, renewal and review aquaculture applications can be appropriately assessed for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.
The Appropriate Assessment of Castlemaine Harbour has been completed and the relevant licensing determinations have been made based on applications to hand at the time of the assessment.
The specific applications referred to by the Deputy were submitted to my Department subsequent to the carrying out of the Appropriate Assessment process for this harbour. Accordingly, it was not possible to assess these applications against the designated Conservation Objectives for the harbour.
The optimum method for appropriately assessing applications by individual operators, who are not included in the initial overall assessment procedure, is under consideration by my Department. The process must comply with best scientific practice and be achieved in a manner which will be acceptable to the national authorities and to the EU Commission.
In the meantime, the assessment procedures agreed with the EU Commission require Appropriate Assessments in respect of aquaculture activities to be carried out by the national authorities and unilateral departure from these arrangements is not possible.
Every effort is being made to expedite the conclusion of this matter as soon as possible.
Ministerial Meetings
Questions (293)
Lucinda Creighton
Question:293. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 301 and 302 of 16 December 2014, the number of meetings between the Minister or Minister of State and the MAC for the years 2011 to 2014, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2459/15]
View answerWritten answers
Ministerial MAC meetings happen periodically in my Department and are attended by both myself and Minister(s) of State. There have been 4 such meetings in my Department during the years 2011 to 2014.
I am in regular contact with individual members of the MAC, and meet with the Secretary General and/or Assistant Secretaries General on a weekly basis. MAC meetings take place in my Department on a fortnightly basis and are always attended by one of my advisors. The Ministers of State in my Department are also in regular contact with the appropriate member of the MAC in his/her particular area of responsibility.
Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments
Questions (294)
Michael Ring
Question:294. 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 payment. [2464/15]
View answerWritten answers
The 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 issued to the person named on 16 January 2015. The balancing 25% payment will follow in due course.
Ministerial Advisers Remuneration
Questions (295)
Jerry Buttimer
Question:295. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount spent by his Department on special advisers for each of the past four years; the way this compares with the four years from 2007 to 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2499/15]
View answerWritten answers
The figures requested by the Deputy are being compiled and will be forwarded to him directly as soon as possible.
Ministerial Transport
Questions (296)
Jerry Buttimer
Question:296. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount spent by his Department on ministerial drivers and associated travel expenses for each of the past four years; the way this compares to similar expenditure for the four years from 2007 to 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2515/15]
View answerWritten answers
The figures requested by the Deputy are being compiled and will be forwarded to him directly as soon as possible.
TB Eradication Scheme
Questions (297)
Colm Keaveney
Question:297. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the role which he and his Department have played in varying a TB herd test at a location (details supplied) in County Galway; the date on which this test was first scheduled; the reason it was re-scheduled and brought forward; the exact results of the first test; the actions taken thereafter; the reasons for and type of the second test; the results of same; if he will clarify and justify officially, scientifically and administratively, these results; his and his Department’s roles, influence and impact on all of the meetings held regarding these matters; the dates of these meetings, including conference calls; the reasons for the haste of these decisions, including those taken on 7 January 2015; if his attention has been drawn to constant conflicts of interest in this situation; the reasons for this new public/private partnership, including capital being deployed by the private partner; the total savings to his Department’s and agency’s budgets in 2015 as a result of this rapid change to the State’s farm management plan; the way in which he proposes to eliminate the conflict of interest; if he is satisfied that farmers and others will not be victims of these conflicting positions; the date on which the proposed research will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2536/15]
View answerWritten answers
The herd in question was restricted on 2 August 2014 arising from the detection of 4 TB reactors during a routine round herd test conducted under my Departments TB Eradication Programme. In keeping with normal protocols in such cases, the herd concerned was subject to 2 further tests at 60 day intervals to determine if the restriction could be lifted. While the first of these two 60-day tests disclosed no further reactors, the second test on 20 December 2014 gave an indeterminate result for two animals (i.e. the reactions by these animals to the TB skin test were not within the defined norms such that they could be determined to be either positive or negative). The normal procedure for such situations was followed and the animals were subject to two follow-up blood tests (Gamma Interferon) on 5 and 12 January 2015, both of which were negative (it is normal practice by the Department, where there is an absence of correlation between the skin and the initial blood test, to conduct a second blood test). Having fully complied with the normal procedures, the herd concerned was de-restricted on 14 January.
As the regulatory authority with responsibility for implementing the bovine TB eradication programme, my Department was centrally involved in the decision making process in this case. In this context, and in accordance with normal practice, communications take place as necessary between relevant officials, including a meeting on 9 January 2015 (but not on 7 January as stated in the Question). However, a decision on de-restriction had to await the final outcome of the blood testing phase referred to in the preceding paragraph and, as stated, this decision was not taken until 14 January 2015. In summary, I am satisfied that no decisions were taken in haste and that my Department acted appropriately in this matter and that all of the appropriate procedures were followed with a view to the elimination of TB from the herd and to prevent any spread to other herds. I am not aware of conflict of interest in the management of this issue.
In relation to the second matter raised which, I should emphasise, has no bearing on the management of the disease incident referred to above, as I have stated in response to recent questions on this issue, 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.
The operation of the demonstration farm and the dissemination of research from this farm is an ‘operational’ matter for Teagasc and its governing Authority, which comprises representatives of the main stakeholder groups in the agri-food sector including the farm organisations.
Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments
Questions (298)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:298. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal under the disadvantaged areas payment scheme 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2554/15]
View answerWritten answers
An application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 30 April 2014. Payment has not yet issued to the person named as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not yet satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements.
Immediately the holding concerned is confirmed as having met these requirements, the case will be further processed with a view to payment issuing to the person named at the earliest possible date thereafter, provided all other Scheme requirements have been satisfied.
Question No. 299 answered with Question No. 292.
Single Payment Scheme Payments
Questions (300)
Michael Ring
Question:300. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive the balance of their single payment scheme and agri-environment options scheme; the reason for the delay in payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2691/15]
View answerWritten answers
An application under 2014 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 15 April 2014. An advance payment in respect of Single Payment issued on 16 October and the balancing payment issued on 1 December 2014 to the nominated bank account of the person named. The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from 1 September 2011 and full entitlements 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. These checks have been successfully completed in respect of the 2014 Scheme year and 75% payment issued to the person named on 12 December 2014. The balancing 25% payment will issue in early February.
Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments
Questions (301)
Michael McCarthy
Question:301. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an AEOS payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2759/15]
View answerWritten answers
The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from 1 September 2011 and full entitlements 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 an on-farm inspection during which issues arose in respect of land-parcels declared which required digitisation. This is being dealt with by my Department at present and once the digitisation process is completed, the application will be processed with a view to making payment in respect of 2014 at the earliest opportunity.
District Veterinary Offices
Questions (302)
Seán Kyne
Question:302. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans regarding the district veterinary office in County Galway; if the office is to be relocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2767/15]
View answerWritten answers
In line with government policy, my Department began a process in 2009, of restructuring its local office network. This resulted in a reduction in the number of local offices from 58 to 16 enhanced Regional Offices. A follow-on review of business processes and procedures and, in particular, the administrative support requirements, in those 16 offices resulted in the introduction of a number of significant changes in the implementation of controls in the TB eradication programme. As a consequence of these changes and having regard to the significant efficiencies which have already arisen as a result of the investment made by my Department in IT in recent years, the number of staff required to deliver the service in the local offices has been considerably reduced. The review concluded that further substantial efficiencies would accrue from the centralisation of administrative support and, in light of this, my Department has commenced a process to centralise this support in 2 ‘back office’ locations, namely Portlaoise and Cavan.
The centralisation of administrative functions facilitates the redeployment of staff from my Department’s Regional Offices to other State agencies and, thereby, enable Government to provide services through these agencies more efficiently. My Department has already engaged with the Garda Síochána, the Department of Social Protection, the Revenue Commissioners and the Payroll Shared Services Centre with a view to new work for staff from my Department that are affected by the reorganisation plan. Following the Government decision to locate one of the 3 Payroll Shared Services Centres in Galway, my Department has been requested to redeploy our administrative staff in Galway to that Centre. No date has been set yet for redeployment but the Department anticipates it is likely to happen in mid 2015. The proposed redeployment to the Shared Payroll Service does not involve administrative staff being moved from their current location in Renmore.
It is important to state that any changes to my Department’s Galway office will not negatively impact upon local access and services for local customers. Department veterinary inspectors, agricultural inspectors and technical officers will remain in place and frontline services will be fully maintained and public access for all of the Department’s stakeholders will continue to be available. Similar changes have taken place in the Department’s offices in Clonakilty, Limerick, Waterford and Enniscorthy without any negative implications for the provision of services to farmer clients.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (303)
Brendan Smith
Question:303. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason graduates in agri-environmental science from UCD are excluded from working as planners for GLAS as that particular course specialises in land management, habitat management and sustainable green agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2784/15]
View answerWritten answers
EU Regulations governing the Direct Payment Schemes requires my Department to operate a Farm Advisory System (FAS) to provide advice to farmers on a range of issues relating to land and farm management. The regulations require that advisors are suitably qualified and regularly trained. In addition, in order to be approved as a GLAS Advisor, an advisor must also be an approved FAS advisor. In determining the level of educational qualifications required to be a FAS/GLAS advisor, my Department must ensure that such qualifications are of an appropriate standard to meet the objectives and the requirements of the various schemes, and the associated governing legislation, on which advice is being provided. Advisors must be qualified to interpret soil tests, understand the requirements of all schemes and understand constraints of land management imposed by various land designations. Furthermore, advisors must be in a position to translate this knowledge into detailed management plans and also advice for farmers not only on the schemes requirements but also on their farm operations.
In order to ensure that advisors meet the requirements outlined above, my Department requires that all advisors must have attained a FETAC Level 8 Bachelor Degree in Agricultural Science/Land Management in Agriculture and must have taken soil science and an animal or crop production subject to a level 8 degree standard.
The Agri-Environmental Science degree provided in UCD is considered eligible under the FAS/GLAS educational qualifications requirements provided that graduates have undertaken soil science and an animal or crop production subject as core subjects of this degree programme.
Advisors wishing to become a FAS/GLAS advisor must submit to my Department a copy of their qualifications, including a full transcript, to ensure that the required standard has been attained.
Dairy Sector
Questions (304)
Brendan Smith
Question:304. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the qualification known as AGITO in New Zealand, awarded to persons successfully completing a course in dairy farming, has international recognition and if it is recognised by the Irish authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2785/15]
View answerWritten answers
AGITO is the New Zealand Industry Training Organisation for Agriculture. It is one of New Zealand's largest industry training organisations, helping more than 10,000 people each year to gain the knowledge and skills needed for a productive career in agriculture. AgITO works closely with a number of government funded training providers offering NZQA registered qualifications in agriculture sectors ranging from dairy, sheep, pork, cattle to rural servicing. In Ireland it is the function of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to determine the international recognition or otherwise of educational awards and the comparability of such awards to education levels on the Irish National Qualifications Framework.
On foot of an overall positive determination by QQI in relation to AgITO educational awards, Teagasc could, if requested by QQI, consider the equivalence or otherwise of such awards with its educational programmes for farmers.
No such request has been received to date.
Aquaculture Licences
Questions (305)
Martin Ferris
Question:305. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for an oyster licence in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [2803/15]
View answerWritten answers
The application for an aquaculture licence referred to by the Deputy is in respect of a site located in Castlemaine Harbour, which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 site).
All applications in ‘Natura’ areas are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. My Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is engaged in a comprehensive programme of gathering the necessary baseline data appropriate to the Conservation Objectives of ‘Natura’ areas. This data collection programme is substantially complete. This is followed by data analysis and the setting of appropriate Conservation Objectives by the NPWS. Once this process is complete all new, renewal and review aquaculture applications can be appropriately assessed for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.
The Appropriate Assessment of Castlemaine Harbour has been completed and the relevant licensing determinations have been made based on applications to hand at the time of the assessment.
The specific applications referred by the Deputy were submitted to my Department subsequent to the carrying out of the Appropriate Assessment process for this harbour. Accordingly, it was not possible to assess these applications against the designated Conservation Objectives for the harbour.
The optimum method for appropriately assessing applications by individual operators, who are not included in the initial overall assessment procedure, is under consideration by my Department. The process must comply with best scientific practice and be achieved in a manner which will be acceptable to the national authorities and to the EU Commission.
In the meantime, the assessment procedures agreed with the EU Commission require Appropriate Assessments in respect of aquaculture activities to be carried out by the national authorities and unilateral departure from these arrangements is not possible.
Every effort is being made to expedite the conclusion of this matter as soon as possible.
Aquaculture Licences
Questions (306)
Martin Ferris
Question:306. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an applicant for an oyster licence can assist the application process by engaging appropriate professional expertise to carry out an appropriate assessment of the relevant area. [2804/15]
View answerWritten answers
The majority of areas for which aquaculture licences, including oyster licences, are sought are designated as Special Areas of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and/or Special Protection Areas under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 sites). The European Court of Justice declared in case C418/04 that, by failing to take all the measures necessary to comply with Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43 (Habitats Directive) in respect of the authorisation of aquaculture programmes, Ireland had failed to fulfil its obligations under that Directive.
In the negotiations to address the judgment a process was agreed with the European Commission which would lead to full compliance by Ireland with the relevant EU Directives.
Accordingly, in the case of aquaculture sites located within Natura 2000 areas the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, has engaged in a comprehensive programme to gather the necessary baseline data appropriate to the conservation objectives of these areas. This process has been largely completed. This comprehensive data collection programme, together with the setting of appropriate Conservation Objectives by the NPWS, enables all new, renewal and review applications to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. This work represents a significant financial, administrative and scientific investment by the State in resolving this issue. The Appropriate Assessment of aquaculture applications is being dealt with on a bay-by-bay basis.
As indicated, the Appropriate Assessment of aquaculture is being carried out in accordance with the Roadmap agreed with the European Commission. The process must comply with best scientific practice and be achieved in a manner which is acceptable to the national authorities and to the EU Commission. At present the assessment procedures agreed with the EU Commission require such Appropriate Assessments to be carried out by the national authorities and unilateral departure from these arrangements is not possible.